Re-Moralizing Ourselves Through Humor

  “Morale — the level of individual psychological well-being based on such factors as a sense of purpose and confidence in the future.” It is not surprising that people feel demoralized these days. As our society continues through a social, political, and economic metamorphosis, many folks are caught in the midst of tremendous turmoil wrought … Read more

People Assess Your Value/Reputation Based on How Your Actions Impact Their Emotions

  Early on in my programs, I invite a volunteer to come up and learn an Improv game. Generally, there are very few takers. I then ask for some of the folks who hadn’t volunteered to share what thinking they went through that kept their hands from going up. The reasons are many. Among the most common answers are: … Read more

Lawyers as Improvisers? Is That an Oxymoron?

  I’m researching an article based on the premise that the skills and practices that make Improv performers successful are relevant and applicable to lawyers. For example, both: need to stay focused on small bits of information while seeing the desired end-result; co-create narrative from disparate points of view; understand how empathy develops in an … Read more

Your Quality of Presence is Revealed Through the Power of Focus

  When working with a large group, it is often desirable to have the participants form duos, triads, quartets, or quintets in order to enable everyone to participate in a particular game. As the different teams are absorbed into their tasks, a substantial racket is normally generated, frequently punctuated by gusts of laughter. During the … Read more

Instructional Moment: In Order to Feel Brave, Embrace Your Fear

  It’s common for those new to Improv to allow fear or lack of confidence to keep them from volunteering for games. When outcomes are unknown and collaborators’ actions unpredictable, stepping up to play an Improv game can feel like an excursion into the Bermuda Triangle. With no map, no recognizable landmarks, and many tales … Read more