Your training dollars, better served...

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the idea of the use of improv to train within corporations often creates a discussion around that fact that it serves the function of better listening and team building, and that in this context, it is not about teaching IT programmers to become Second City performers.

Nonetheless it still often sounds odd to people. But at it's heart, it is about PLAY.

There is a meme going around the internet in my Applied Improv circles:

While it has not been documented that the late Dr. Karen Purvis said this, her organization reports anecdotal evidence that she did.

However, Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute of Play (yes, there is such a thing), basically agrees with the Dr. Purvis, although maybe not about the speed... you will have to trust my observations and almost 20 years of experience on that one. Dr. Brown (no relation) states: “...when employees have the opportunity to play, they actually increase their productivity, engagement and morale.”

Therefore, if you are hiring facilitators and/or consultants to help with your organizational change, teach better communication skills, better storytelling and public speaking skills, or create more adaptable, better listening leaders, why wouldn't you incorporate play in that learning?

Remember, when we were children we learned almost everything we know, through play. And as adults? We did not lose our capacity to learn. And we did not lose our capacity to play. Just our willingness to do either.