APPLIED IMPROVISATION

Dynamic. Engaging. Orignal. Fun. Customized. Online. Offline. Hybrid.

Quantum Leap Applied Improv

One of the pioneers in the field of Applied Improvisation, Michelle has been using Applied Improv-based principles and practices with organizations, leaders, teams, and professional development groups for over two decades. She attributes improv to changing her life and is passionate about bringing its "transformative magic" to others. She is a member of the Applied Improvisation Network and a Certified Applied Improvisation Facilitator. She performed full-length improvised plays with Precipice Improv for 10 years, and currently performs with Playback Theatre Virginia. Michelle facilitates ongoing Improv for Leaders workshops as adjunct falculty for the Federal Executive Institute, and facilitates improv-based sessions at international conferences and events, including the Front End of Innovation Conferences.

Why Applied Improv?

Improvisation for Leaders

For leaders in business, government, not-for-profits, communities, and anyone else who leads groups
In order to guide others, leaders must be able to be able to navigate effectively change themselves. Change is about pattern breaking. Today's business world requires leaders and entrepreneurs to be open to new ideas, have flexibility in thought and action, take risks, work within ambiguity and uncertainty and still confidently move forward – just like improvisers. Effective leaders and improvisers both have to make spur of the moment decisions, synthesize information, make others look good, see different perspectives, create and innovate, make relevant connections and serve the good of the whole. Improv-based learning helps people break patterns in order to influence and respond in new ways. This workshop will focus on two levels at the same time - you as a leader and you as a creative individual. In this workshop you will use the principles, practices and tools of improvisational theater for:
  • Enhancing overall leadership performance
  • Getting past the "inner critic"
  • Risk taking – the paradox of making it safe to take risks
  • Learning to tolerate "failure" and leverage mistakes productively
  • Real-time adapting as new information and situations emerge
  • Overcoming resistance; transforming blocks and barriers
  • Generative thinking - going from either/or to yes and thinking
  • Quick and easy storytelling
Improv-based learning helps people feel comfortable with using their own inventiveness, putting ideas out there, taking more risks and tolerating mistakes. We let go of controls and the linear-only mindsets that otherwise inhibit our inner creative leadership ability. By doing the unconventional, we experience a insights and ideas we would not otherwise access. Improvisational skills help enhance performance and awareness in core competencies such as:
  • Presence - being fully in the moment, listening, and paying attention
  • Thinking on Your feet - responding confidently in the moment while under pressure
  • Inspiration - drawing forth the energy, passion, and assets in others
  • Discovery - new and surprising solutions to old and new situations
  • Resourcefulness - recognizing and using the unexpected as opportunity
  • Resilience – bouncing back quickly after "failures" or dead ends
  • Impactfulness - engaging risk taking and spontaneous behaviors from others
  • Influence - getting buy-in and support for your initiatives
  • OURS thinking - teams thinking in terms of "Look what WE did!"
  • Taking action - apply the techniques to work goals and projects
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Creative Facilitation Using Improv and Storytelling

Online or in person. Fun workshop filled with improv and story-based activities for bringing more of your own creativity, ease, spontaneity, and adaptability into your facilitation - and out of your participants - in creative and practical ways. Improv takes us out of our habitual interactions and ways of being and delivers us back into the "blank canvas" of the moment. As we learn to be present, we let go of controls and the linear/rational-only mindsets that otherwise inhibit our creative thinking and risk taking. Storytelling brings connections, purpose, humor, and relateability...and gives meaningful context to facts and information . In this workshop, we integrate these approaches for self-awareness and transformative facilitation. This workshop has overlaps in Prinicples with others in the Creative Facilitation Series, but focuses specifically on Improv-based and Story-based activities and templates to use for yourself and with those you facilitate.
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Other Applied Improv Workshops

For individual, teams, and communities. Customized Applied Improv workshops in focus areas including:
  • Team and Community Building
  • Creative Thinking
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Ideation and Inspiration
  • Product and Service Development
  • Innovation and Discovery
  • Connection, Meaning, and Cocreation
  • Emergent and Future Stories
  • Creative Work Culture
  • Change, Adaptability, and Resilience
  • HR, OD, Training
  • Working with Divergent Values
  • Fun and Aliveness
  • Presence and Creative Expression
  • Soul and Spirit

Feedback for Creative Facilitation Using Improv

I constantly face three challenges: How to quickly engage people in my workshops? How to raise the level of engagement so participants are emotionally as well as intellectually committed? How to nurture cooperative learning, where participants rely on each other for their learning? I walked away with a facilitation arsenal and ideas on applying the principles of improv to my work - and with a smile on my face. Allen Liff, Ronin Marketing
ALLEN LIFF
Marketing Specialist and Workshop Leader
Thanks for all of your great energy and positivity. I learned a lot and had a blast! The workshop was an inflection point for me, emotionally, as it showed the way forward to a new purpose. I was also struck by its usefulness across such a broad diversity of backgrounds and future uses. Great day!
KATE COATES
VP Client & Market Insights, USIS Marketing
Thank you so much for a wonderful workshop! As an improv practitioner, I was familiar with the principles and some of the activities - and yet it was wonderful to discover new activities, or insightful ways of debriefing the ones I knew. I particularly liked how relevant and accessible all these activities were and loved the way you created a safe space for sharing our stories - and enjoyed discovering all the fascinating stories of my teammates!
CLOTILDE MAYER
Improviser and Professional Facilitator
Michelle was an exceptional workshop leader, making us all feel good, special and safe to jump into these creative exercises.
SARAH de GREEF
Improviser and Professional Faciliator
I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop! I attribute our lack of hesitation to jump right in and try new things to the finesse with which Michelle created a safe environment for discovery, development, and fun. All of the exercises were appropriate to the group and will prove very useful in my own work. Michelle's genuinely shows up in service to the workshop participants. She teaches helpful skills, shares exercises, tailors the work to the the needs and desires of the group, and fields questions and comments with ease.
JOHN COUNTRYMAN
Improviser and Professional Faciliatator
It was a pleasure and created a lovely mix of energy in the room. Thank you for a wonderful learning experience.
JO GOLDEN
Service Design Lead at FJORD