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Communication

This is the core of what we do as improvisers. We breakdown the communication model into exercises where you build your skills in declaring your point of view, active listening, sharing focus, and many others.

Communication is more than just "talking." It requires focus, good listening skills, and a willingness to "speak your mind." In our communication training, we address the following learning points.

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Learning Points for Communication

Opening your mind to new ideas and accepting them can reveal unique solutions and enhance problem-solving. This involves really listening to what someone is saying and accepting their idea as a possible solution. Participants practice not anticipating what the right or wrong solution is, but instead, being open to hearing, and ultimately accepting, new ideas.

The most essential element of effective brainstorming and creative thinking is creating a safe environment of trust and support. Participants will see how thinking "outside the box" is only possible when they are not affected by external issues that restrict their ability to be totally open and free to new ideas. They will be rewarded for expressing their opinions and contributing to a solution. As a result, they will hear more innovative ideas expressed more quickly than they may be used to in the workplace.

Declaring your point of view is a "gift" to your other teammates. It allows everyone to have a clearer understanding of your viewpoint when working towards a solution. Only after everyone has declared their point of view can a group truly move forward in discussion or problem-solving. Without declarations, there is not enough "real" information to find a "real" solution. Participants will practice "declaring" their thoughts and reap the rewards.

Deferring your judgment of ideas, accepting of all styles and perspectives, and saying 'yes first' increases team productivity. We will discuss why deferring judgment is so critical to productivity and creativity. By implementing this concept, Participants will experience how easier it is to come up with unique, and unexpected, solutions.

A description of the Listening Objective will be coming soon!

Effective organizations recognize the ever-changing roles and focuses that occur within teams. In order for individuals to form a team, they must "share focus" (or "give and take"). Sharing focus creates a conscious "sharing" of the physical, emotional, and mental space by all individuals in a group. Participants will learn how to create and maintain an environment that embraces different types and styles of "focus" thereby allowing each person to contribute in their own unique way.

Saying "yes" to an idea or acknowledging you heard an idea allows creativity and ideas to flow. After saying "yes," adding another idea to what is already being explored often leads to more unique ideas. Participants will learn how to say "yes, and" and see results far superior to those obtained by just saying "yes."