How to Use Humour and Improv to Communicate in a VUCA World: Neil Mullarkey

In this episode of Work's Not Working... Let's Fix It, Siân Harrington chats to celebrated comedian and communications expert Neil Mullarkey about why we need to improve communication in the workplace and the potential of improvisation as a tool for doing so.

Neil recounts his journey from teaming up with Mike Myers in the 1980s and co-founding the Comedy Store Players to exploring how improvisation can enhance workplace collaboration. Delving into the business realm, he emphasizes how crucial 'soft skills' like listening and adaptability have become, especially with research highlighting the lack of communication skills in modern work environments. In fact, poor communication has been estimated to cost businesses dearly in terms of productivity.

Key takeaways:

• Modern communication platforms (eg emails, WhatsApp, Teams) have increased, leading to confusion and overwhelm
• Pandemic lockdown revealed an abundance of formal communication but a lack of informal communication, affecting rapport-building
• The importance of oracy: the ability to express oneself fluently in speech.
• Key improv skills: the philosophy of 'Yes, and,' where one listens, accepts and then adds to the conversation.
• From LAGER to LASER: tools to approach improvisation
• Tips for improving virtual collaboration
• In a fast-changing world, predictability is a myth; leaders should be prepared for uncertainty
• How to bridge the gap between structured strategy and spontaneous adaptability 
• How leaders can develop an 'In the Moment' mindset 
• Humour's role in work today
• Siân and Neil do some live improv!

If you want to cultivate environments where effective communication fosters productivity, creativity and confidence  - or you want to build these skills - then this episode is for you.

About Neil Mullarkey

Neil is a communication expert based in London, UK. He has delivered hundreds of keynotes and workshops to various organizations across the world in 25 countries and counting including Microsoft, KPMG, WPP, Saatchi & Saatchi, Vodafone, EY, Google, Deloitte and GSK. He is a guest speaker at London Business School, London Business Forum and Bayes Business School.

He is also a prominent comedian. He performs weekly with the Comedy Store Players, Europe’s top improv troupe which he co-founded in 1985 and often appears on TV and radio shows such as QI and The Pentaverate.  He has also appeared in two Austin Powers movies. He is author of In the Moment: Build your confidence, communication and creativity at work published

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