Be Average? – gifts from improv

I’ve prepared a set of small cards that capture some of the  ‘gifts from improv theatre’ that I think are particularly relevant to facilitators.

One of them is ‘Be Average’.

This one surprises some people. Maybe it surprises you too. So let me explain why I think it’s one of the most powerful improv principles to embrace.

At its heart this is about blocking yourself. That voice in your head that tells you that you are ‘not …. enough’ (insert your own word). When performing improv you can see players do this – they falter, about to say something, thinking that the idea they just had is ‘not clever enough’ or ‘not witty enough’. I know, cos I do it all the time!

We do this elsewhere as well. We censor ourselves to not ask a ‘stupid’ question. Or to not try something new or a bit out of the ordinary.

In improv, ‘being average’ is about doing the obvious, and moving the scene forward. It’s about working with a group helping the whole to shine rather than focusing on the one-liner that shines the spotlight on an individual.

It’s about accepting your own offers, saying ‘yes’ to yourself. It’s also about giving yourself some slack. Doing something. Anything. And even surprising yourself with what you are capable of.

So instead of aiming so high that you are immobolised by fear or expectation (by yourself or others), aim a little lower and allow your natural talent and brilliance to emerge. Works for me!

Colour-Advance

I’ve been reading Everything’s An Offer by Rob Poynton & Gary Hirsh. It’s the sort of book that I’ll come back to often, and will have to re-read because of the many insights relating to applying improv theatre principles in business, and life. Unlike many other books about improv which focus on the form itself, this one focuses on effects and implications.

I’ve just finished the chapter on colour-advance. It’s a ripper.

I’ve known of this game for a long time. Basically it gives the audience some control over the story by giving them the option of asking for colour – more information, detail, depth – or advance – move the story forward.

While I have thought of using this for presentations (although I’m yet to find a presenter willing and flexible enough to try it) Rob suggests many, many ways of applying colour-advance.

As the owner of a small business, I was really struck by using colour-advance as as analytic tool to look at new business ideas. Colour is about adding another flavour of something that already exists, for example, facilitation training. While advance is about a completely new direction or product.

Rob says: “Creating a genuine advance might take longer and require more investment, but it will yield a more dramatic and lasting impact. So if you decide to set out to create a new product that is an advance, you will know you need to be more patient and put more resources behind it. If, on the other hand, you are focusing primarily on colour, then perhaps you can afford to be less cautious or risk-averse. You might use a more flexible, agile development process, take decisions more quickly and instinctively and get your product into the market quicker.”

This understanding of colour-advance is also a good tool to use when facilitating; providing a framework to assess innovation or new product ideas.

I’ve been pretty good at providing colour. Advance is another story, and something I’d like to focus more on. I suspect this requires collaboration too.

ANZAC Biscuits

In honour of ANZAC Day, here’s a recipe for ANZAC biscuits:

Combine 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 cup of sifted, plain flour, 1 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of coconut.

Then heat 125g butter and 2 tbsp golden syrup together in a saucepan, stirring until melted. Mix half a teaspoon of carb soda with one tbsp of boiling water and add to the melted butter mixture. Sir this into the dry ingredients.

Place tablespoons of the mixture on a lightly greased oven tray (allowing room for spreading), and cook in a slow oven for 20 minutes. Loosen while warm and cool on trays. Makes about 35.

Photo credit: A Whisk and A Spoon, flickr

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Gifts from Improv Theatre

Today I was privileged to present at the Australian Institute of Training & Development Conference in Sydney. My session was about exploring six of the key improv ‘rules’ that I’ve found useful when using improv in workshops, for training, or for my own development.

As I’m no good at preparing notes in advance, I promised that I’d put some notes here on my blog. Oh, and if you missed out on a set of improv cards, just email me and I’ll send you a set.

The set-up
You don’t always have to improvise. In fact, often, everything goes as planned. However, I find the ability to improvise takes the stress out of things not being as you expect (for whatever reason) and avoids the blame game. Accept the offer, breathe, and move on.

To be able to improvise, create with what’s at hand, you need to flex and exercise your spontaneity. Being spontaneous means using your existing knowledge and skills PLUS the resources available in the moment to improvise. Improvising a meal when friends drop in unexpectedly is a good example: you use your knowledge and skills of making a meal with whatever is in the pantry and fridge at the time. And if that doesn’t work you’ll probably suggest Thai from the local restaurant!

And there’s two different but complementary aspects to using improv in training. One is the obvious – using games from improv as activities to explore reactions, concepts or as a platform for a debrief. The other is for your own development – exercising and flexing that spontaneity muscle builds skills to respond ‘as an improviser’ even when you’re not improvising.

These gifts from improv theatre are particularly relevant when all you have left to draw on is yourself. And after all, you are your best resource.

The Gifts

Be Present: Show up. Be attentive, alert, listening, feeling…

Let Go: Let go of judging, yourself and others, and allow ideas to grow and evolve. Be surprised by where they end up.

Be Average: Do the obvious. Say yes to yourself and your ideas and allow your natural brilliance to emerge.

Accept Offers: Say ‘Yes, and…’. Let others know that they have been heard. ‘Yes, and…’ is about acknowledging and building on the offer.

Do Something: Solutions lie in actions – move your body! Try something. Anything. Follow your instincts.

Make Mistakes: Mistakes are the flip side of creativity. Try something new. Acknowledge and celebrate your mistakes.

The Games/Activities

During this workshop I played the following games – just click on the game to see process notes for each one.

• TRUE FOR YOU
• Pass the Zap!
• BUT vs AND
• CHUNKING
• SHUFFLE

Quotable quotes

Keith Johnstone wrote the classic book ‘Impro’. He says lots of insightful things. This is one of my favourites:

There are people who prefer to say ‘yes’ and there are people who prefer to say ‘no’. Those who say ‘yes’ are rewarded by the adventures they have, and those who say ‘no’ are rewarded by the safety they attain.

My challenge to you

When you next train a group, consider how much adventure and safety you provide for your participants, and how much adventure and safety you need for yourself.

If you want more adventure, you can start by using these six principles anywhere, any time to flex your spontaneity muscle.

Useful Resources

The Applied Improvisation Network (AIN)

The annual AIN Conference is an absolute must for me. The 2009 conference is in Portland, OR, USA November 13 – 15. See you there?

Impro by Keith Johnstone

Everything’s an Offer by Rob Poynton & Garry Hirsh of On Your Feet fame ( a sensational web site)

Improv Wisdom by Patricia Ryan Madson

Playing Along by Izzy Gessel

And just for fun, Improv Everywhere. Check out Frozen Grand Central and Food Court Musical

Learning from mountain biking skills

This mountain biking video is going viral on the web. I’m posting it here for two reasons – because it’s amazing to watch, his skills take my breath away. And because it reminds me of passion, skills, confidence, practice, sharing and spontaneity. That’s right, similar skills required for facilitators – but with less danger (usually) LOL

Passion and cynicism

I’ve been facilitating some public meetings recently and I’m struck by the difference between passion and cynicism.

I admire people who are passionate, who are willing to put themselves out there for their beliefs, who will speak up in the face of opposition and on behalf of the marginalised, unheard and disenfranchised. I don’t have to agree with you to acknowledge and admire your passion.

Cynics are another matter. Cynical people make me grumpy – and it’s hard for me not to show it. Cynicism seems to be energy draining, while passion builds energy. Cynics tend to marginalise themselves, and don’t ever seem to be satisfied. With anything. Nor do they have any suggestions for how things might be better.

Grrrrrr… can you tell that I’m still grumpy?

One of the challenges of facilitating is honouring all comments and input. Honestly, I really struggle to honour cynics. What about you? Do you have any advice for me?

Rules for rockclimbing – and life, and…

That’s right. These 9 rules for rockclimbing from Matthew Childs can be applied to life, AND to facilitating. Especially Rule #6 and Rule#9.

Inspiration is everywhere.

Oh, and this post is for my rock-climbing nephew Paul.

Generosity

Generosity is such a wonderful gift. One that I’ve been the recipient of this week. I could, and should, write more. Suffice to say ‘thank you’ to Chris, Johnnie, Geoff and Nic.

Secret of my (our) success

Half jokingly I often say that I hang out with talented people, and that’s the secret of my success. It’s only partly a joke because it happens to be true. In fact, Seth Godin (I think) said you want to be the least talented person in a room full of talented people. That way you will learn.

One of the talented people I hang out with is Geoff Brown. Luckily he lives just down the road. Other talented people I’d like to hang out with more are all over the planet – in Canada, Zambia, the US, England, Spain, Italy, Taiwan, New Zealand (and there’s a few others in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth…) But I digress. Back to Geoff.

Yet ANOTHER of his slideshows has been featured on slideshare. Need I say more?