How Tina Fey's Rules for Improv Can Improve Your
How Tina Fey’s Rules for Improv Can Improve Your Business and Culture Culture and Communication Presented by: Dallan Guzinski NCEO Oakland, CA 510-208-1301 [email protected]
1
IMPROV FOR BUSINESS??? •
As taught to us by one of America’s leading corporate executives…
IMPROV FOR BUSINESS???
IMPROV FOR BUSINESS???
WHY IMPROV? •
Creating something from nothing
•
We do this every single day
•
But… how does it relate to business?
APPLIED IMPROV •
Creating something from nothing • Marketing campaigns • Communication education strategies • New products or lines of business • New processes or improvements • Dealing with customer complaints • Names of your company ultimate Frisbee
team??
APPLIED IMPROV •
Do you want… • More creativity from employees? • More collaboration and support among
colleagues? • Better communication? • Trust? • Less anxiety and fear?
APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR •
Improv helps create safe spaces for participation by combating fear and creating support, openness, and affirmation
•
Fear is the biggest impediment to: • Participation • Creative thinking • Healthy relationships
• Input
APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR
•
In what places or environments have you felt the MOST amount of fear when it comes to: • Expressing yourself openly and honestly • Making mistakes • Being bold or taking risks
• Using your imagination • Feeling validated or accepted
10
APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR
•
In what places or environments have you felt the LEAST amount of fear when it comes to: • Expressing yourself openly and honestly • Making mistakes • Being bold or taking risks
• Using your imagination • Feeling validated or accepted
12
TINA FEY’S RULES FOR IMPROV •
1. Agree
•
2. Say, “YES, AND…”
•
3. Make Statements
•
4. There Are No Mistakes
Rule #1: AGREE, AND SAY “YES” •
Creates a space where people feel safe to share ideas or provide input
•
Postpone judgement
•
Support and respect what your partner has created
Rule #1: SAY “YES” • • • • •
• •
Appreciation Acknowledgement Being Heard Validation Encouragement Acceptance Support
“NO” or “Yes, but…” thinking •
Dinner, Movie, Vacation
“NO” or “Yes, but…” thinking •
How does this differ?
•
What emotions do you feel?
•
What are the consequences?
•
Do the exercise again, but this time…
Rule #2: YES, AND… •
Don’t just stand there… CONTRIBUTE!
•
How are your feelings different in this scenario?
•
The additive approach unlocks the what’s possible
•
Affirms and builds
Rule #2: YES, AND… •
UNLEASH CREATIVITY!!!
Rule #2: YES, AND… •
How does this apply to business? • Interpersonal / Team Communications • Feedback
• Brainstorming • Problem Solving • Avoiding antagonism
Rule #3: MAKE STATEMENTS •
Too many questions are not only exhausting, but it puts all the pressure on your teammates
•
Statements encourage confidence and participation
•
Include yourself; provide solutions, not obstacles
Rule #3: MAKE STATEMENTS •
Focus on the positive first
•
Don’t be too quick to edit
•
Risk aversion and negativity will inhibit innovation and willingness to participate in the creative process
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES
“I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” –Thomas Edison
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES •
Mistakes are inevitable
•
Adaptation and agility are major keys to company success
•
Learn from mistakes and look for opportunities
•
Stop, take a step back, and think about a problem differently. Re-frame your questions.
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES 3M’s “Post-It’ was the result of one huge failure • Spencer Silver develops it by accident in 1968 with little interest from the company • Arthur Fry utilized 3M’s “permitted bootlegging” policy to develop the idea after using the adhesive for hymnal bookmarks •
•
It is now 3M’s biggest money-maker
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES •
•
Exercise: Think back on a time where you or your team experienced failure. Try to extract three different positive outcomes from that experience.
What did you learn? • Did other opportunities come out of this failure?
TINA FEY’S RULES FOR IMPROV 1. Agree (start with “YES”) • 2. YES, AND… (Affirm and build) • 3. Make statement (make positive contributions to your teams work) • 4. THERE ARE NO MISTAKES (Be agile, adapt, and look for other opportunities) •
OTHER READING •
Yes, and: How Improvisation Reverses ‘No, but’ Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration • Kelly Leonard & Tom Yorton, Second City
•
The Improvisation Edge • Karen Hough
•
IMPROVing Agile Teams • Paul Goddard • Many other resources out there on Applied
Improv! Investigate and have fun!
Questions ? Dallan Guzinski National Center for Employee Ownership 1627 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 200 Oakland, CA 94612 510-208-1301 [email protected] www.nceo.org
1
IMPROV FOR BUSINESS??? •
As taught to us by one of America’s leading corporate executives…
IMPROV FOR BUSINESS???
IMPROV FOR BUSINESS???
WHY IMPROV? •
Creating something from nothing
•
We do this every single day
•
But… how does it relate to business?
APPLIED IMPROV •
Creating something from nothing • Marketing campaigns • Communication education strategies • New products or lines of business • New processes or improvements • Dealing with customer complaints • Names of your company ultimate Frisbee
team??
APPLIED IMPROV •
Do you want… • More creativity from employees? • More collaboration and support among
colleagues? • Better communication? • Trust? • Less anxiety and fear?
APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR •
Improv helps create safe spaces for participation by combating fear and creating support, openness, and affirmation
•
Fear is the biggest impediment to: • Participation • Creative thinking • Healthy relationships
• Input
APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR
•
In what places or environments have you felt the MOST amount of fear when it comes to: • Expressing yourself openly and honestly • Making mistakes • Being bold or taking risks
• Using your imagination • Feeling validated or accepted
10
APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR
•
In what places or environments have you felt the LEAST amount of fear when it comes to: • Expressing yourself openly and honestly • Making mistakes • Being bold or taking risks
• Using your imagination • Feeling validated or accepted
12
TINA FEY’S RULES FOR IMPROV •
1. Agree
•
2. Say, “YES, AND…”
•
3. Make Statements
•
4. There Are No Mistakes
Rule #1: AGREE, AND SAY “YES” •
Creates a space where people feel safe to share ideas or provide input
•
Postpone judgement
•
Support and respect what your partner has created
Rule #1: SAY “YES” • • • • •
• •
Appreciation Acknowledgement Being Heard Validation Encouragement Acceptance Support
“NO” or “Yes, but…” thinking •
Dinner, Movie, Vacation
“NO” or “Yes, but…” thinking •
How does this differ?
•
What emotions do you feel?
•
What are the consequences?
•
Do the exercise again, but this time…
Rule #2: YES, AND… •
Don’t just stand there… CONTRIBUTE!
•
How are your feelings different in this scenario?
•
The additive approach unlocks the what’s possible
•
Affirms and builds
Rule #2: YES, AND… •
UNLEASH CREATIVITY!!!
Rule #2: YES, AND… •
How does this apply to business? • Interpersonal / Team Communications • Feedback
• Brainstorming • Problem Solving • Avoiding antagonism
Rule #3: MAKE STATEMENTS •
Too many questions are not only exhausting, but it puts all the pressure on your teammates
•
Statements encourage confidence and participation
•
Include yourself; provide solutions, not obstacles
Rule #3: MAKE STATEMENTS •
Focus on the positive first
•
Don’t be too quick to edit
•
Risk aversion and negativity will inhibit innovation and willingness to participate in the creative process
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES
“I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” –Thomas Edison
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES •
Mistakes are inevitable
•
Adaptation and agility are major keys to company success
•
Learn from mistakes and look for opportunities
•
Stop, take a step back, and think about a problem differently. Re-frame your questions.
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES 3M’s “Post-It’ was the result of one huge failure • Spencer Silver develops it by accident in 1968 with little interest from the company • Arthur Fry utilized 3M’s “permitted bootlegging” policy to develop the idea after using the adhesive for hymnal bookmarks •
•
It is now 3M’s biggest money-maker
Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES •
•
Exercise: Think back on a time where you or your team experienced failure. Try to extract three different positive outcomes from that experience.
What did you learn? • Did other opportunities come out of this failure?
TINA FEY’S RULES FOR IMPROV 1. Agree (start with “YES”) • 2. YES, AND… (Affirm and build) • 3. Make statement (make positive contributions to your teams work) • 4. THERE ARE NO MISTAKES (Be agile, adapt, and look for other opportunities) •
OTHER READING •
Yes, and: How Improvisation Reverses ‘No, but’ Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration • Kelly Leonard & Tom Yorton, Second City
•
The Improvisation Edge • Karen Hough
•
IMPROVing Agile Teams • Paul Goddard • Many other resources out there on Applied
Improv! Investigate and have fun!
Questions ? Dallan Guzinski National Center for Employee Ownership 1627 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 200 Oakland, CA 94612 510-208-1301 [email protected] www.nceo.org
