Everyone at one, or several, points in their lives have had situations where nothing seems to be going right. Or maybe we just didn’t have the luxury of time to think things over. Where a more permanent solution is ideal, we would need to have something in play for the moment, just to buy more time.
Enter improvisation.
Improvisation utilizes logic and creativity, so have fun using both sides of your brain simultaneously. Let me explain.
Logically, you should have a little understanding of what is going on and basic knowledge of the mechanics at work. Creatively, you would come up with alternate possibilities based on sound logic of a situation. Now creatively doesn’t necessarily mean an original idea but a possible option.
We’ve all seen improvisation at work if we’ve ever been to a comedy club, or maybe watched an episode of MacGyver. The intention of improv is to solve a problem temporarily; to react to a situation in the moment.
If we go by Murphy’s Law, which states: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” the ability to think on your feet becomes a versatile tool in your arsenal. Whether in life, business, or relationships, quick thinking is an invaluable asset.
Some applications of improv at work:
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Public speaking. Sticking to a script can make your monologue sound dull and boring. Reacting to interaction from the audience or spontaneous tangents can bring it to life.
- Networking or better yet, schmoozing. Sorry, meeting new people. Improvisational skills can help to be more interesting with your topics of conversation. Commenting on things around you becomes an easy way of breaking the proverbial ice.
- Dates. Nothing makes a date more memorable than an adventure. Jumping from one venue to another creates a bond, especially if that bond is nurtured with spontaneous activity like skinny dipping at two in the morning.
So let’s list some benefits of improvisation:
- Saves time. Need I say more?
- Leads to better solutions. By free association, we can generate more ideas to build a stronger more permanent resolve.
- Relieves stress and builds confidence. With the knowledge that you can handle anything that comes up, things become less frantic, slows our heart rate so we can brainstorm more effectively.
- Makes you more creative. When thinking on your feet, you don’t have time to rationalize, just get it out.
- Generates more interesting conversations. You don’t have to have those awkward silences, especially when you’re just saying what’s on your mind, but, you run the risk of offending people. I know I do.
How does one develop the ability to improvise? Like any skill worth having, it just takes practice. Here are a few ways to get those mental pistons firing.
- Practice randomness. You may not want to say or do random acts in public if you’re self-conscious, but it’s funnier if you do. For instance, if someone were to ask you, “Guess what I did today?” Instead of answering with a simple “What?” say something like, “You found five dollars in the vegetable drawer of your fridge?”
- Live more spontaneously. Some would consider this ‘living in chaos.’ Living spontaneously is equivalent to living in the moment. There are no schedules and no appointments, just taking what life has to offer. If you decide on the way back home to do a double back-tuck off a swing in the park… do it.
- Enroll in an improv workshop. This class can get pretty nerve-wracking, but can prove to be a very fun experience.
- Don’t be afraid to be wrong. Who was it that said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take… I don’t know, but the message is clear. By not limiting yourself to what logically sounds right, you develop speed in which these ideas pop up.
- Pay attention. By being aware of what is going on around you, you begin gathering the ingredients needed to bake that pie… sorry, come up with alternative solutions.
These two are more like exercises.
- Create a story. Pick four arbitrary objects around you and place them in whatever order you want. Start with the first object and begin creating a story about that object. Next, continue the story incorporating your second object. Continue this with the remaining pieces. This helps to get the creative juices flowing.
- Yes, and. Here’s an exercise from improv comedy. Grab a partner and take turns making up statements beginning with, “Yes, and…” For example: “Hey Todd, why don’t we go play some ball?” “Yes, and let’s not forget to bring the Cheez-its!”
So do you think having some improv in your life would do you some good?
