6 Keys in Management Improvisation
How do you you apply the principles of improvisation to management?
Too often our management plans consist of mental gymnastics that keep us in our heads and out of touch with what is occurring at work and with our staff.
Many managers are finding the benefit of learning about improvisation to improve their management approach and skills. See Patricia Ryan Madson’s Improv Wisdom blog links or Harvey Mackay’s latest newsletter: Making others look good reflects on you.
This week, I attended an improvisation class facilitated by Stephen Sims at the Prairie Theatre Exchange school in Winnipeg. Our class of 15 participants engaged in a number of improvisation games or exercises.
Here are 6 key management points I derived from the first class. This is not necessarily the “crumbs” Stephen gave us so much as what I took away - so any misrepresentation of improvisation in these statements are my own misunderstanding.
- Be connected. You must watch your team members closely and maintain a strong connection if you want to develop good improvisation skills or authentic management skills.
- Set your team members up for success. Make it easy for your partners in management or improvisation and set them up for success. The “we” is stronger than the “me.”
- Work or play with what is given you. In management and improvisation it is important to build upon what your team members contribute and to build upon their strengths.
- Don’t force fun. Don’t impose humor in the office and don’t force humor in improvisation. Both practices involve the principle of letting things occur rather than getting things to happen. As Billy Welu the bowler stated: “trust is a must or your game is a bust.”
- Lose your mind and come to your senses. Don’t over-think improvisation or management. Be present to what is going on and participate fully in the development of work or the exercises. Sense making may be more important than strategic thinking.
- Fail and move on. Don’t get stuck in or on your failures -shake them off - learn from them - move on.
IMPROVe your management by taking an improvisation course and taking your management learning to a new stage.
David Zinger is an expert in
employee engagement and strength based leadership.
Photo Credit: pil07.jpg on Flickr by http://flickr.com/photos/hcgilje/455107485/
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POSTED IN: business ideas, communication, management, management hack, self management, work life
4 opinions for 6 Keys in Management Improvisation
Patricia Ryan Madson
Oct 5, 2007 at 7:16 am
Thanks for mentioning Improv Wisdom on your site. And, glad to learn that this work in the classroom continues to open doors and minds to ideas useful to management. The “takeaways” from that improv class are good advice for improv and excellent advice for life! Braove to that wise teacher. Here’s to many successful improvisations.
Warm thanks,
Patricia Ryan Madson
David Zinger
Oct 5, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Patricia,
Thank you for the comments. I believe I saw your name attached to a conference in Toronto. All the best with your work, I think it is so much needed in the workplace of today.
David
Patricia Ryan Madson
Oct 6, 2007 at 10:20 pm
David,
Wow! You are on top of things. Yes, I am leading a preconference workshop in Toronto for the Wellness in the Workplace Conference. I’m doing something called: “Making Friends with Chaos” I am hoping to use improv technology (if I can make up a phrase) to help us live with the unexpected in positive ways. Will I see you there?
Patricia
David Zinger
Oct 7, 2007 at 5:03 am
Patricia,
I hoped I could go but my schedule does not permit. All the best, I would love to be there as your book has been so helpful.
David