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Improvisation: The Art of Making Stuff Up

By Lynn Grasberg

 

Improvisation is our ability to create something new in any given moment. It's the art and science of spontaneous problem-solving. We do it all the time, and we get better at it with practice. For example, we do it every time we carry on conversations: we have words and grammar, but we constantly put things together in new ways (including ways that sometimes surprise US).

 

Uh-oh

If you freeze up when you're on the spot, you're probably worried about doing the wrong thing. Improvisation frees you up because you can't do the wrong thing if you follow the basic principle of yes-and.

This idea is familiar to those of you who have been reading my newsletter or taking my classes for a while. Here's a quick review and a list of resources to help you take it further.

 

Yes-and? What's that?

This is an attitude and a method for knowing what do or say next . . . without a script! You take your cue from whatever was just said or done. Say Yes to what just happened (accept it), and add to it or transform it by saying and . . .

Example:
I recently did a communication skills training program for the staff of a government office. On the day of the training, the man who hired me asked if I could add a whole new section about customer service on the phone.

"Yes," I said. "And what would you like?"

It turned out, he had just attended a conference and learned a new way for his staff to hand off calls to other departments (preventing sending the caller to "Phone Hell" or Purgatory on hold). He agreed to role-play the scenario with me and we first roleplayed how not to do it to great laughter. After we taught the concept, other people bravely roleplayed and had a rip-roaring good time because they knew they couldn't do it any worse than we had. My ability to "yes-and" in the situation helped me make a major change at the last moment, fulfill my meeting planner's agenda, and encourage people to try something new.

The ability to 'Yes-and' anything makes you flexible in your responses. And it makes everything you do more fun.

Why Apply Yes-And in Your Business?

 

The ability to 'Yes-and' anything helps you handle unexpected events and conditions. It makes you flexible in your responses. And it makes everything you do more fun.

                                 

Copyright©2007 Lynn Grasberg

This article is excerpted from Ta-DAH! Lynn Grasberg’s free monthly newsletter.

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Lynn Grasberg lights up the stage at conferences, conventions and retreats as a keynote speaker and musical comedienne. As a presentation skills coach, she helps individuals and organizations make powerful presentations, handle change with humor and resilience, and develop top-notch communication skills.  Contact her at 303.913.5226, LynnGrasberg.com. 

Note: You have permission to publish this article as long as the resource box is included. Do not edit it in any way without permission. Please let us know of its publication by sending either a website link or a courtesy copy of your publication to lynn@lynngrasberg.com.

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