How Improv Comedy Helps Me Be a Better Leader
At a particularly trying time in my career, I found myself in an improv comedy class. I was looking for a break from the daily toil, but since I never miss an opportunity to multitask, I was also there to work on improvisational speaking and getting out of my own head. I quickly realized that what I was actually learning was how to be a better listener, a more effective collaborator, and a more empathetic teammate.
The foundation of improvisational comedy is "Yes, And." It means: I accept the reality you've created as absolute truth, I treat your contribution as a gift, and I build upon it because we are in this together.
So, what does that have to do with leadership?
Purposeful Listening: "Yes, And" emphasizes that it's not about your ideas. Because nothing is rehearsed, you never know what your partner will say. This forces you to be a careful, present listener. One of the easiest ways to get out of sync with a team is to stop listening. If you don't listen, you miss their "gifts," and you can't build on their momentum.
Building in Real-Time: Too often, we get caught up in our own internal monologue and miss the brilliance of those around us. By acknowledging and expanding on what we are given, we foster a truly collaborative and innovative environment.
A Culture of Possibility: "Yes, And" shifts the focus from what could go wrong to what could go right. It creates a "psychologically safe" space where team members feel comfortable taking risks. When people trust that their contributions will be valued rather than shut down, they bring their best ideas to the table.
The next time you are engaged in a conversation, try this: Only respond to what the other person is actually saying. Don't try to steer the conversation or pivot back to your own agenda. Just keep building on what they have given you.
Now, imagine if both of you did that? That is the power of "Yes, And," and that is true collaboration.