Using “yes-and”, following the flow, and focusing on the process as much as the outcomes… Is this improv or facilitation?
The two share a lot in common! When we combine them, we can create amazing, immersive workshops.
And that’s exactly what I discuss with Shannon Hughes in this week’s episode. Shannon dedicates her work to generating ‘aliveness’ – helping leaders come alive and bringing confidence, connection, and creativity to teams.
Now, she’s sharing the lessons she’s learned from bringing applied improv into corporate spaces – and how facilitators can bring a little more improv and play into workshops to amazing effect.
Find out about:
● How beneficial it can be to remember that facilitators are guides, not teachers
● The multiple skills we – as communicators, colleagues, and people – learn from improvisation
● How to apply improvisation for conscious leadership (with a helpful acronym)
● Why absence has a bigger impact than presence – especially when it comes to leaders
● How we can become better listeners and help others to do the same
● The tools you might already be using in your workshops that you can apply to improv
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Questions and Answers
Part one
[01:15] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator – if you do?
[04:34] If you call yourself an experiential facilitator, what is the opposite?
[07:34] What brought you to imrpov and facilitation? And which came first?
[14:20] What is the mindset of improv that we see in facilitation, and how do you apply improv in facilitation?
[15:48] How do you bring this mindset into the room – do people pick it up or do you have to explicitly explain it?
[21:02] Are there building blocks for psychological safety in improv? And what does the concept really mean in improv?
[27:18] Where do you see the risk of applying improv – and especially the “yes and” principle?
[31:43] Exploring – and practicing – Shannon’s favourite exercise: The Pride Rant.
Links
Shannon’s website: www.enlivenedstudios.com
Connect to Shannon:
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
Share your thoughts about our conversation!
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