The Improvisation Edge

Trust is the oil of organizational effectiveness. It is what enables people to work together, share ideas, and take risks. Without it, an organization will suffer severely. But with all of the pressures and difficult decisions in business, trust can be in short supply.There are all kinds of resources out there about building trust. The Improvisation Edge is unique in that it 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. All you have are your fellow improvisers. The skills, philosophy and behaviors of improvisation are radically collaborative-and when you collaborate on such an intense level, you intrinsically engender trust.For the past twelve years Karen Hough has been applying the lessons of improvisation to the workplace, with spectacular results. The Improvisation Edgedescribes four principles that will help leaders, managers, trainers, and front-line employees adopt the improviser's mindset to improve communication, collaboration--and have a great time at work. 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.

Hough leverages all of the elements that make improvisation so entertaining: story, surprise, connection, and interaction. She provides both case studies from organizations that have embraced these new ways of working and exercises for individuals, pairs and teams. 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.

Karen Hough is the founder and CEO of ImprovEdge, a company that creates learning experiences, training and consulting using improvisation to teach business skills. For many years a senior sales executive in the networking engineering industry, she has also been a professional improviser and actor for 20 years, including training at Chicago's legendary Second City.