22 May meeting to start the discussion

[Paul Z Jackson]

If you are interested in discussing how the AIN might usefully set up some accreditation or certification of members, you are welcome to this first event, at 34a Clarence Road, St Albans, AL1 4NG, UK at 10am on 22 May.
If you can't get there physically, then post your ideas here.
My first thoughts are that any system should add value to the AIN as a whole, to any member who uses it, and to any client of AIN practitioners: that it should be simple to administer and understand; should be transparent and fair.

[Sylvaine MESSICA]

Hi all,
Thanks to Paul to receive us and organize this meeting very rich. I was great to discuss about accreditation and AI, thanks to Belina, Padraig and Fred. I'm really happy to ear visions of AIN partners with the same problematics in companies.

I apply improv in companies since 7 years, in management, sales and negociation, communications skills, changement, problem solving, team building....
I want to create a real French group of Applied Improv in France (with Fred too). I like very much the performers, I have a team of improvisors in France, with a lot of talent. Now I want to find some alter ego in business consulting & improv, both is definition of applied improv in business companies. The door is open to a new exchange in France... We have to be together to be stronger and sale our prestation. If you are alone, don't be happy, it's not a market. And if it's not a market you can't have some clients.
We need a group with :
• experienced theatrical improvisers
• consultants and trainers of improv in organisations and skills like management, sales, négociation,communication....
• previously employed as managers within large organisations


Excuse my english. Fred can correct me if she wants.

Spread power of Applied Improv

regards
Sylvaine

[Paul Z Jackson]

http://appliedimprov.ning.com/forum/topics/ain-meeting-about

which says: AIN meeting about certification, accreditation and training

Notes from Paul Z Jackson following a meeting with Frederique Frédérique Thiriet-Smith, Belina Raffy, Padraig Hyland , Sylvaine Messica, Paul Z Jackson, in St Albans, UK, Friday 22 May 2009

Improvisation and applied improvisation

Improvisation as performance has a long history. Currently there are many routes through which people can train to be impro performers – even to the extent of various ‘schools’ or traditions, such as Johnstone, Spolin, Chicago, etc.

Applied Improvisation (AI) is different, a relatively new field, gathering under the umbrella of the Applied Improvisation Network (AIN), with a recognition that the predominantly theatrical (and comic) expression of improvisation is an accident of history. The concepts, principles and practices apply just as well – and perhaps with greater potential impact – in non-theatrical contexts, particularly within organisations.

Some organisations find out about impro as entertainment – by booking a show for a conference, perhaps; some experience impro workshops for fun. These are among the ways in for improvisation to be applied – as a way of achieving better teamwork, improved presentation skills, innovation, strategic insights and much, much more.

Training

Beyond trainings to be theatrical improvisers, we are starting to see trainings to be applied improvisers.

One possibility for the AIN is to collect and publicise these trainings. Some are already advertised on the Events pages of the website.

There are also a wealth of training and development opportunities at the AIN conferences and at AIN local/regional meetings. And there is plenty of experience from our independent practices of applying improvisation, waiting to be harvested.

Making a market

Many theatrical improvisers are keen to practice applied improvisation in organisations, and may want to learn more about those contexts. Conversely, there are trainers and facilitators with business backgrounds who would like to learn more impro skills.

More and more organisations are recognising that impro has a lot to offer, and will be seeking good practitioners.

The AIN is well-placed to broker marketplaces for meeting these demands, and raising standards so that ‘improvisation in organisations’ develops and retains a good reputation.

Improvisation does not belong to anybody: it is a set of concepts, principles, activities, experiences, that anyone can get involved in and do whatever they want with. The AIN, as an improvisational umbrella, is an open organisation, which can thus serve as a fair and transparent industry-standard body.

Our experiences of accreditation and certification

Between us we knew about certification and accreditations within such fields as coaching (ICF, ILM), NLP, ASTD, Microsoft, project management and others. We had no clear distinction between ‘certification’ and ‘accreditation’, though noted they could be variously applied to individuals, to courses and/or to organisations.

The benefits of good accreditation:

• A badge that adds to your reputation and can help you attract business
• A process through which you learn and develop valuable skills
• Access to a network of fellow practitioners with a recognised set of standards/ethics
• A guarantee for the buyer of certain standards or levels of experience
• A means for the AIN to build more understanding of our practice and increase our impact worldwide

We felt it would be better for us all if AIN took a lead in accreditation, rather than risking other, less open bodies, grabbing the reins. We want it to be attractive and inclusive, and for it to be OK for us for anyone to choose not to get involved.

How to build it from where we are now

It is already apparent that some of the benefits mentioned above are already available simply by being a member of AIN.

By being a member you are saying (to clients, to the world) that you subscribe to the mission and value statements. Perhaps this should be made clearer on our website to both potential practitioners and to potential clients.

You can display the link to AIN and the AIN badge on your website, card and marketing materials.

Your AIN profile shows your experience. We agreed we could develop either a section of the site or a new website for facing the client. This would offer useful info about the field and about the qualifications and experience of the network members, perhaps pointing clients with specific needs to appropriate sections.

Vouching for each other

We liked the concept of other users contributing to a mark of quality – for example, with e-bay ratings, and recommendations on LinkedIn.

One possibility is you get the AIN Badge of Quality if you are vouched for by 2 or 3 other members of AIN.
This could be any member; or perhaps from two who have already acquired the Badge, which could bring the benefits of a more mentoring relationship. (In the latter case, we’d need a starting group of experienced members).

You would agree to vouch if you felt that the work you witnessed met certain criteria – such as demonstrating the application of impro principles to the case, that it was done with a degree of skill, that the client achieved a desired result. It may be that we have a space for client involvement in the process, too. Witnessing work might involve a visit to see it in action, or an interview process.

We could include Paul Levy’s idea that the award of a Badge also depends on some contribution to the network – such as participating in meetings, conferences and/or website activity.

Developing an AIN training offer

We felt to be a good AI practitioner you need expertise and skill in 3 dimensions:
• Improvisation
• Organisations
• The particular profession or skill area in which you operate

An AIN train-the-trainer offer might include ways that applied improvisers could develop their craft, by going through a defined process and gaining a certificate to acknowledge that.

It would include what you need to know about business, what you need to know about impro, and perhaps a range of good application practice.

To retain the improvisational spirit, it’s likely to be modular, so you take only the parts you need, depending on your experience.

Professional development for applied improvisers could appeal to trainers, facilitators, coaches, workshop leaders, conference presenters.

What next?

Please add your comments to this discussion.
What might we develop further at our conference?

Note about the meeting participants

We were all:
• experienced theatrical improvisers
• consultants and trainers of improv in organisations
• previously employed as managers within large organisations
• and 4/5 presented improv in business schools

[Matt Elwell]

Paul! Would there be a way to participate remotely by skype, IM, or some other technology? An AIN certification is a very interesting idea, and I'd love to participate in the discussion!

[Paul Z Jackson]

Yep - why don't we Skype you in at one or more times during the meeting. We can sort precise details nearer the time - as you are probably a few hours or days behind us advanced Brits. Love your ASTD-related comments and will look at their info soon.

[Abby Hagyard]

Hi Paul

I'm a new member and I'm VERY interested in the idea of accreditation. I think that the interactive aspect of Improv has a huge value that easily surpasses traditional coaching methods and models.

I'm located in Canada - how can I get involved in your group's discussions?

Abby Hagyard

[Paul Z Jackson]

Hi Abby, The latest posting was the one about 3 up from this, reporting on the meeting that we held. Any comments on that most welcome. What happens next? Not sure - though there'll probably be some discussions and decisions at the Portland conference, if not before. Cheers, Paul Z