Improv theatre at the office; Work relationships can benefit from skills learned on stage
National Post
Wed Jan 6 2010
Page: FP13
Section: FP Careers
Byline: Amy Hoak
Source: Dow Jones
Lane Rasberry may not be the next Steve Carell, but the same skills that improv comedians typically learn on their rise to stardom helped this research interviewer get better at his job. A class at Seattle’s Jet City Improv made Mr. Rasberry more aware of how he communicates and helped improve his interviewing skills. In presentations, he is more responsive to an audience and he isn’t as fazed when something doesn’t go according to plan. “I never thought about acting or getting involved in something like that,” he said. “I wanted more communication skills.”
Mastering the ability to listen and communicate well with co-workers can be a rarity in the corporate world of countless email messages and PowerPoint presentations. Improv companies are taking note and offering corporate training workshops.
Meanwhile, individuals looking to perfect those skills invest in improv classes — whether it’s to do their job better or find a new one – giving new meaning to the phrase “all the world’s a stage.”
“How to listen, how to read a room, how to build trust on teams, how to create and innovate, how to resolve conflict — all that is stuff our actors know how to do really well,” said Tom Yorton, chief executive of The Second City Communications, an arm of the legendary Chicago comedy theatre.
These are skills business schools don’t always teach.
“We’re being called in to work with young people who aren’t showing up with the emotional intelligence and the listening skills and people skills — brilliant people with numbers and flow charts,” said Richard Richards, vice-president of program design for the Ariel Group, in Lexington, Mass., that uses acting techniques to coach employees. For individuals, Jet City Improv occasionally offers a course on using improv skills in job interviews. The workshop ends with participants doing mock interviews.
This training also can help hold down a job. While people need to be competent at what they do, “the other key facet of being someone who keeps their job is being someone other people want to work with,” said Seth Weitberg, curriculum director for Improv Olympic in Chicago. “If you’re a good, active listener, someone who supports other people and
makes their ideas look better … you will find a lot of people want to be around you quite a bit,” he said.
No time for an improv class? Here are three tips to help you look for, or keep, a job:
Listen up
Practice listening skills by concentrating on the person speaking and not what you’re going to say next, Mr. Weitberg says. “Most people will self-identify as poor listeners. They’re afraid they won’t have something good to say when it’s their turn to speak. Out of fear, they start thinking about what they want to say.” You’ll have a better conversation if you stay in the moment.
Be flexible
Improvisers know this well: A scene might not take the direction they had hoped, but they can stick with it to make it work. They follow a “yes, and” rule; instead of saying no or denying something said or done on stage, actors support their cast mates, accept the suggestion and add to it. That rule “is important for creating professional relationships and getting people’s trust and letting them know we are all on the same side here,” said Shubbu Amin, a program manager at Microsoft who took a course at Jet City Improv.
Know yourself
People often memorize their resume in preparation for job interviews. Instead, reflect on your past experiences that express your personality and what you bring to a company, Mr. Richards said. Actors develop a keen sense of self-awareness to present characters on stage; in the business world, develop that awareness to recognize your personal strengths and weaknesses and use the knowledge to your advantage. “Most people think they have to play a role instead of just being themselves in an interview; when they’re themselves, they get to be a little more credible and authentic, and that really rings true,” Mr. Yorton said.
Remember even if you have a job, self-awareness is important, especially in a tough economy. “Every interaction is a continuing job interview … whether you’re going to keep it,” said Sean Kavanagh, chief executive of the Ariel Group.
Filed by owen at March 29th, 2010
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