Improv Your Practice
You should practice improv. Huh? I know this sounds oxymoronic. Improv requires spontaneous responses to stimuli in the environment - how do you practice that?
Truth be told, I’m in awe of people who perform in improv comedy troupes (e.g., Who’s line is it anyway?). I feel like my brain doesn’t work that way. I’ve tried some simple collaborative improv games, and invariably I freeze up. My mind overloads. My desire to control panics. My self-consciousness rages. It’s ugly.
In his book Messy (about creative thinking), Tim Harford notes that improv has three distinct advantages over fully scripted performances:
Speed. Improv allows you to get something in front of people quickly. The results aren’t always perfect, but the effort isn’t wasted either.
Flexibility. Improv allows you to explore new possibilities. Instead of staying on the train tracks, you can explore the trails.
Economy. Improv offers more affordable solutions. You don’t have to architect every element; you just need to set the boundaries of play.
But the secret to great improv is practice. Improv performers practice frequently to build muscle memory. They get comfortable with the other performers. They grow their catalogue of possibilities. They learn to anticipate the next moves.
When it comes to my facilitation practice, I use many of those same improv approaches. I get comfortable with the people in the room. I expand my catalogue of tools to use with groups. I learn to anticipate what might happen next.
You won’t find me performing with an improv comedy troupe, but you will find me building muscle memory. What about you? Where might you improv your practice?
Inspiration
Harford, T. (2016). Messy: How to be creative and resilient in a tidy-minded world. London, UK: Little, Brown. (Chapter 4: “Improvisation”)