Neil Mullarkey is a comedian, author, co-founder of The Comedy Store Players with Mike Myers (Wayne's World, Austin Powers & Shrek) a regular on Whose Line Is It Anyway and member of the iconic Cambridge Footlights. This episode will make you smile and laugh out loud, something we could all do with more of.
Neil shares some incredible stories with me from the days of the Cambridge Footlights, home to so many famous comedians such as Monty Python, The Goodies, John Cleese, Fry & Laurie and many more. He explains how he met Mike Myers by accident and asked him to paint the set and sell tickets for him which led to them becoming a double act which in turn become a way of life full of laughter, improvisation and stand up comedy. The power and applicability of improvisation in a business context is clear and Neil now helps leaders focus on their ability to listen, co-create, build psychological safety and teamwork and step into uncertainty with a feeling of hope.
You become a good improvisor when you let go of the fear of being seen as mad, bad or wrong. Don't try to do things by yourself 'bring a brick and build a cathedral.'
Warwick University did a study that happy workers are 12% more productive, humour will help any leader and humour utterances tend to see people succeed more than those who don't.
Neil outlines his acronym L.A.G.E.R. as a simple process that any of us can follow.
Neil also explains how he met and worked with Eddie Izzard and outlines how different styles and rhythms of delivery connect with audiences.
The pandemic also forced Neil to focus on his skills in a virtual and remote format. His advice for leaders is to keep communicating with people using all the various mediums but ensuring you are 'checking in' not 'checking up'. and use the 20:20:20 rule. The office remains a place to focus people on 'connection, celebration and education.'
Kentucky Fried Duck will help you remember to focus on your what you want your audience to KNOW, FEEL and DO to avoid the spiral of disaster and enter the bubble of opportunity.
This episode is packed full of fun, laughter and wisdom from years of entertaining people all over the world as some of the greatest comedians of our time.
We also touch on storytelling for leaders. Keep it simple as Neil outlines three simple categories of. how we got here, where we are now and where are we going next.
Neil has also promised me that his alter ego L Vaughan Spencer will come onto the show in the New Year.......what could possibly go wrong!
www.neilmullarkey.com
Neil's new book 'In The Moment' is available on Amazon.
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