The Improvisation Edge : Secrets to Building Trust and Radical Collaboration at Work

Your team won’t talk. Your boss answers no. What do you do next? Take a tip from the last place you would expect: the improvisational stage. All kinds of books have been written about building trust and teamwork. But The Improvisation Edge is the only one that draws on the knowledge of experts in trust building: theatrical improvisers. Think about it: other than combat, no situation requires more extreme trust than improv. You have no script, costumes, or set—nothing but your fellow actors. Improvisers must manage risk, collaborate radically, create deep trust, and turn disasters into opportunities—which are also vital business skills. Karen Hough describes four secrets that help leaders, trainers, managers, and frontline employees adopt the improviser’s mind-set. You’ll learn techniques to create a positive environment, encourage fearless participation, and turn “Oops!” into “Eureka!” The Improvisation Edge offers a hands-on way to build an organizational culture that makes breakthrough business results possible. There are all kinds of books about building trust. But The Improvisation Edge is the only one that draws on the wisdom of those who are truly experts in the dynamics of trust-building: theatrical improvisers. Think about it: other than combat, no situation requires more extreme trust than improvisation. You have no script, costumes or set—nothing to depend on but your fellow improvisers. When you collaborate on such an intense level you intrinsically engender trust. Karen Hough describes four principles that will help leaders, managers, trainers, and front-line employees adopt the improviser's mindset. You'll learn techniques to create a positive environment, encourage fearless participation and selfless collaboration, play to your own and your colleagues'strengths, and turn surprises, mistakes and disasters into opportunities for something new, unexpected and maybe better than you planned. The Improvisation Edge offers a fun, engaging and very hands-on way to build the kind of organizational trust and collaboration that makes breakthrough business results possible. Contents 8 Preface 12 Introduction: Your Biggest Problem at Work and the Most Unexpected Solution 20 The First Secret of Improvisation: Yes! Space 34 The Second Secret of Improvisation: Building Blocks 64 The Third Secret of Improvisation: Team Equity 100 The Fourth Secret of Improvisation: Oops to Eureka! 140 Conclusion: Practice. Then Celebrate! 166 Notes 170 Acknowledgments 174 Index 176 A 176 B 176 C 176 D 177 E 177 F 177 G 178 H 178 I 178 J 178 K 178 L 178 M 179 N 179 O 179 P 179 R 179 S 179 T 180 U 180 V 180 W 180 Y 180 About the Author 182 To help leaders, managers, and front-line workers build greater trust within the organization, trainer, speaker, and performance expert Karen Hough guides readers through practice of radical collaboration based on the tenets of improvisation Secrets to building trust and radical collaboration at work