Reclaiming the Courage to Create Through Improvisation

I am posting the following article by Ellen Liang: RECLAIMING THE COURAGE TO CREATE THROUGH IMPROVISATION By Ellen Liang Creativity and Innovation SIG Special Correspondent One effective and entertaining way to spark an individual's creative ability is through improvisational acting methods (or “Improv,” for short). This was a major lesson from a workshop sponsored by the ASTDps Creativity and Innovation SIG. The workshop was held earlier this spring at North Seattle Community College. A dozen participants spent a morning performing various exercises, including observation games, group storytelling and finding ways to link statements to build positive connections to their creative potential. (Click here to watch a short video of some of the class activities.) Through life experiences with people who are often (but not always) well-intentioned, such as parents, teachers, siblings and childhood peers, bosses, and work colleagues, many people have learned to suppress their native capacity to be spontaneous and creative. Everyone has moments when they become intimidated, freeze and say the wrong things. Improv helps people think under pressure, says workshop leader, Sandy Bjorgen, who calls herself a "recovering shy person." Through improvisational acting, they reveal sides of them that could surprise co-workers, and perhaps even themselves. "We need to continue evolving; life is more fun if we give ourselves challenges," said Bjorgen, a trainer and coach. "That means developing an open mind to discover things you can’t anticipate. The most certain thing we have is change. We’re better served if we develop a mindset to embrace change." Workshops that stimulate creativity can be especially useful in challenging economic times. For instance, company leaders can stand out from a crowd by being more creative, while job seekers can be helped to speak under pressure and act poised. Improv boosts communications skills by teaching the importance of listening and observing, therefore being more present. "This was my first experience with improv," says William Wurtz, vice president for Research and Learning Sciences with the ASTD Puget Sound Chapter. "Improv resonated with me as another set of tools to help reclaim some of the creative potential we all have but that many of us have lost due to heavy social pressure to conform. It teaches us to be quick and spontaneous in our thinking and communication, along with a sense of play, and not taking things too seriously." For instance, the group improvised a scenario where they were planning at trip together. The rule was to avoid saying "Yes, but", replacing the words with "Yes, and", offering a suggestion without rejecting anyone else’s idea. Another exercise begins with two people improvising a scene. At any point, a member of the audience can say: "Freeze!", and go replace one of the players. The new person must then create a different situation, and one by one each audience member replaces one actor. According to Bjorgen, the tricky part is monitoring people and helping them get a personal best, as they each come in with different fears. “It’s very typical that some people want to over process actions while others want to just do it," she says. “One purpose is to get people out of typical mindset; it’s playful but helps move your head out of a rut.” Improv has long been practiced in acting workshops and it can make everyone more successful, according to Bjorgen. "To work with a partner on stage, you have to pay attention and listen," she says. "If you break concentration, you lose that connection, you strike a dissonant chord, you’re out of the role." Bjorgen says she has always had performance anxiety and overcoming it is a learned skill. "Everyone who has the courage to attend an improv workshop already has the drive to push themselves into things that make them change and grow, even if they’re afraid of risk," she adds. To learn more about improv and training, check out www.improv-ableresults.com.