"Through improvisation you can create and establish an innovative corporate culture."
- Brain Disruption, page 17
"Improvisation is the act of spontaneous creation."- Brain Disruption, page 17
Bruce and Gail present a framework for learning improv through the foundation of saying “Yes, and…” which is the core of improvisational practice. As they point out, “the possibilities stop as soon as you say ‘No.’ Creativity and innovation are all about possibility.” The idea is that you say “Yes” to an offer that is given to you and then you add something to this offer. The act of saying “Yes” and adding to an idea fosters collaboration and trust. The authors introduce the four rules of improv, which are:
Through a research study conducted at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, the authors reveal that when people hear the word “No,” the area in the brain that controls anger lights up. There are neurological consequences to working in an environment where “No” is the expected outcome. The importance of supporting ideas and saying “Yes, and…” leads to greater productivity, creativity, and happiness in the workplace.
So, how can you employ the rules of improv to develop creativity in your team?
"Improvisation is a powerful business tool that dynamically alters behaviors and the brain."- Brain Disruption, page 17
Through the use of improvisation you can advance and maintain an innovative corporate culture where any person in an organization is encouraged to grow a new idea. Bruce and Gail show, convincingly, that disrupting the “judge” in the brain promotes a shift in thinking.
As the authors say, “great leaders want their people to take risks – even if failure is an outcome.” A point to remember is that risk leads to creativity and original ideas. The more ideas you have the more creativity develops, leading to better solutions. Improv helps you flex that muscle in your brain that opens to potentiality. At the same time, proving the value of adding improvisation to a company’s approach to impacting change is also essential.
How can companies and organizations understand the value of improv and encourage change in their culture?
"Companies that foster creativity achieve exceptional growth over their peers."- Forrester Consulting, quoted in Brain Disruption, page 33
The “creative dividend” is real. One of the wonderful aspects of Brain Disruption is the wealth of research and studies provided to underscore the importance of developing creativity in the workplace. One main study was conducted by Forrester Consulting, a respected and influential research-based consulting group, who surveyed senior management from numerous companies. They uncovered groundbreaking results in favour of creativity such as:
You can download the study here.
The gift of improvisation has influenced my life – both personally and professionally – for many years. I can attest to the fact that learning the skills and practice of improv will make a positive difference in all areas of your life. Learning to apply “Yes, and” as a way of life, and “disrupting your brain” so that more ideas can move freely will add creativity to your life, and your workplace. Suddenly, the acceptance of all kinds of other opinions – outside your own way of thinking – broadens your potentiality. Yes, and, you will also experience more happiness!
Bruce and Gail started ExperienceYes in 2013 and have been quickly building their client base in the fields of telecom, education, oil & gas, healthcare, and management consulting. Brain Disruption: Radical Innovation in Business through Improv is the result of their experience. They both still nurture their passion for performing staying busy with local theatre companies, such as The Evergreen Players and the Evergreen Players improv Comedy troupe (EPiC). They are married, have two teen-aged children, and live in Evergreen, CO.
