Haiku Reflection of Applied Improv Conference
27 October 2008(Language alert) So I’ve just spent four hours on a plane between Chicago and LA. When there’s no service and no entertainment (except for my trusty iPod, of course) what’s a girl to do? Haiku, of course. I’ve always wanted to use Haiku in a workshop for reflection, but haven’t yet found the right group.…
OS principles through the eyes of improvisers
30 July 2008At OSonOS in San Francisco, Yeal Schy and I co-convened a session to explore the Open Space principles using improv games. We were ‘encouraged’ (!) by Michelle Howard, and joined by Becky Peterson, Anne Feehan and Fabulous James. We wanted to explore the principles of Open Space: Whoever comes are the right people, Whatever happens…
Unexpected learning
12 June 2008All this talk about web-based tools, you’d never know that my most significant learning this week came from a very concrete, face-to-face action method called Memory Lane. My friend and colleague, Antony Williams, came to our Facilitating With Confidence course to introduce our trainees to action methods, being present and being in the moment. He…
Great insights from improv activities
10 June 2008Wedged in-between a re-entry conversation for a group of people learning to be confident facilitators and some design activities for facilitated workshops were some improv activities. Sure, it provided a change of pace, some physical activity AND some important insights relating specifically to designing facilitated events. And like most great Ah-ha! moments, was preceded by…
Improv for Small Business
15 March 2008At a small business networking meeting I introduced the principles of improv theatre. It became clear to me that improv, and other creativity activities, enables us to make the subconscious conscious. Here are the key points from the workshop: • Successful businesses are agile and creative • Improvising means combining your existing skills and knowledge…
More ‘Yes, and…’ insight
13 March 2008Accepting offers – saying “Yes, and…” is fundamental to improv. Without it there is no action, no progression. When applying this principle in business and organisations, the criticism is often that many ideas are not worth accepting. In other words, (“yes…) it’s OK in improv (“but…) not at work. In trying to shift the mindset…
This is why I love improv – ‘Frozen Grand Central’
10 March 2008This Improv Everywhere stunt is great fun. While it’s been replicated in dozens of cities throughout the world, it hasn’t yet been done in Melbourne. This would be great at Southern Cross Station at peak hour. Where do I sign up Melbourne improvisers? And when you’ve finished watching it go here to find out more…
Noticing
7 March 2008I wonder if people in organisations are so focused on what they are doing that they are too busy to notice what’s happening. And does it matter? This week I was talking to a client about 3 – 5 year planning. I suggested that anything further than one-year planning was a nonsense. Actually I believe…
Need a laugh? Watch this
6 March 2008Dedicated to my fried Andrew Rixon, check out this TED video on juggling. It made me laugh out loud. I think I need more of that.