As an Applied Improv trainer, I’m always trying to track what’s “sticky” in my trainings. Is it the improv exercises? The debriefs? The general experience? “yea, and….”?
Of course it’s all those things to different people.
But I was interested to see what it was to the clients who seemed the most changed by the Applied Improv experience.
So I went back to 2 people who keep recommending our workshops over and over, and asked them. I wanted the one thing that rose to the top for them.
Turns out, it was one of the principles of improv they had practiced that changed them the most.
For context here, I usually start my sessions by talking about the principles, or tenets of improv that the improv exercises practice. Yes, the improv games are a ton of fun, AND…. they practice specific skills and principles.
Starting this way also helps set the stage and lets them know the workshop has nothing to do with being funny, clever, witty, or fast.
One of the tenets of improv that I almost always have listed is “make your partner look brilliant.”
This simple idea seems to be the one that is the most “sticky” and life changing. Of course “yes, and…” is also in there, but “make your partner look brilliant” is pretty uncomplicated and easy, at least as in intention.
I remember when I was teaching in the MBA program at USF, this particular tenet was an eye opener for folks.
So try it sometime. During a conversation have your objective be “make your partner look brilliant.”
See what happens.