Training Industry Magazine - January/February 2020 - 32

exciting and spontaneous possibilities
- but not so much in business. It is
the unknown in any situation that can
paralyze us.
Improvisation conditions you to move
forward with only what you know
and have in that moment and not let
fear of the unknown keep you from
moving forward. Toning the muscles
of resilience and bouncing back
from unforeseen outcomes can help
individuals deal with uncertainty. It's
about getting comfortable with not
knowing what is going to happen next.

COMPLEXITY
Complexity involves a multiplicity of
issues and factors, some of which may
be intricately interconnected. Ever felt
like, if one more unexpected thing hits
you out of nowhere, you will lose it?
There are so many things coming at
you at once in the workplace, moving
parts you cannot control and complex
issues to deal with. The ability to
navigate the complexities and interact
with chaos will come in handy.

Improvisation by nature invites chaos
and begs you to weave unrelated
pieces together with ease and accept
all offers thrown at you and treat them
as opportunities - even if you don't
understand where they fit. Improv grants
participants the ability to take everything
offered to them in the moment and not
worry about the limitations but instead
consider the possibilities.

Improvisation teaches people that they
are enough. They have everything they
need to work off-script and respond
appropriately and effectively in the
moment. Sometimes you fail; sometimes
you knock it out of the park. You are okay
though because the risk is worth it, and
you have two choices: Do something or
do nothing. When there is no plan, you
learn to lean in and get out of your head.

AMBIGUITY

The time is now to recognize that
change is the new normal and is not
going away - only increasing in speed
and magnitude. Let's put it in the light
it deserves, and give people the tools
they need to navigate it effectively. If
your organization or clients have not
considered a learning strategy for
managing change, it may be time for
a change.

Ambiguity is characterized by a lack
of clarity and difficulty understanding
exactly the situation at hand. Business
loves its structures, processes and
planning. What happens when plans
change? We need to rise to the challenge
of ambiguity and learn to respond with
resilience and adaptability.

Kristy West is an applied improv facilitator,
learning experience designer and founder
of BraveSpace. She blends her unique
experience in improvisational comedy,
corporate sales and training to help teams
tap into interpersonal communication skills
through improvisational based learning
and play. Email Kristy.

The time is now to recognize
that change is the new normal
and is not going away.

SAMPLE IMPROV EXERCISE: CLAP POINT NAME
This exercise demonstrates how quickly our brain develops patterns and how even minor changes in patterns can feel disruptive.
This explains the power of habit and how games that purposely disrupt patterns increases mental agility and psychological
adaptability. These are essential for improv, but even more critical to navigating change that we do not see coming.
First round: A group forms a circle. The facilitator claps for one beat, points to a person in the circle then
says the person's name on the third beat. That person then repeats this pattern. The group repeats this for a
few rounds.
Second round: The facilitator claps, points to a person in the circle and then says someone else's name (not the
person they pointed to). The person named then claps, points to a person in the circle and says someone else's
name. Group repeats this for a few rounds.
Third round: The facilitator claps, points to a person and names someone else in the circle. The person standing to
the right of the person named goes next. The group repeats pattern for a few rounds.
Debrief: There will be plenty of starts and stops with opportunities for participants to support each other and discuss
what makes the jolts difficult and how we respond to frequent, constant change.

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http://www.bravespacebiz.com/

Training Industry Magazine - January/February 2020

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