All the world’s a stage, and corporate America is headlining in Business Improv — a continuing education course hosted by The University of Texas at Austin’s Extended Campus that provides professionals a framework for communicating effectively in unpredictable situations, staying calm under pressure, and recovering from mistakes.
Companies, especially post-Covid, are constantly changing and the ability to communicate effectively is critical for employees. Especially in times of transition, the ability to make their voices heard, effectively pass along information, and help express a brand to their audiences is invaluable. From deadlines getting moved up, to calls with frustrated clients, to discussing organizational restructures, learning quick-thinking strategies can equip business professionals to better handle work’s daily hiccups and uncertainties. And, when Plan A fails, improv training sets the groundwork for pivoting with speed so they can move with ease to Plan B, then Plan C or Plan D.
“The beauty of improv is that it simulates stressful, high-pressure situations through the low-stakes safety of experiential learning activities,” said Amira Pollock, a Texas McCombs+ leadership coach with McCombs School of Business and instructor at Center for Professional Education and Extended Campus.
Led by Pollock, the two-day Business Improv workshop weaves together case studies, research, and theater improvisation exercises. For example, early on, students are introduced to John Maxwell’s concept of Failing Forward – twisting the perspective of failure from something negative to a positive opportunity for improvement. Putting this into context, each participant explains a recent mistake they made at work, to which they are applauded by their peers. Embracing failure, Pollock explained in her summer course, is part of creating a corporate culture of learning and developing spaces where it is safe to make mistakes without feeling guilty.
These “failure bows” are continued throughout the course, as students are challenged with exercises such as Two-Headed Interview, where two sets of pairs sit down for a job interview in which one pair asks general interview questions and one pair answers. However, each team can only speak one word at a time – stringing questions and sentences together based on whatever their partner says. This teaches adaptability, quick thinking, and spontaneity.
Most of the improv exercises are playfully themed around company life, inviting participants to both break down walls and relate to one another on common threads such as good, bad, and terrible advice. Or pantomime reasons why a person might be late for work.
The course’s grand finale is PowerPoint Karaoke, in which a small group of students must present an impromptu report in front of their audience of peers. As they present, never-before-seen presentation slides are displayed for them to incorporate into their discussion. This enables deep practice in quick thinking, managing ambiguity, and building on ideas together.
“Research shows that confidence comes from experience,” said Pollock. “So, I fast-track it with experiential learning to enable my students to get out of their heads and into the present moment. They learn to trust their instincts, recover from mistakes instead of freeze up, and thrive outside of their comfort zones.”
Pollock went on to explain that she’s had several success stories return to her from the course. A manager who did public presentations overcame a technology failure during his presentation. An employee better navigated workplace conflicts by leaning into tough discussions. A consultant pivoted and attuned to her client’s changing needs to maintain relevance. A sales professional who once felt petrified during conversations with clients adapted to the flexibility of each moment. Many managers incorporated improv activities from the course into staff meetings to enhance team cohesion.
“Improv training primes my students so when the stakes get high in the actual workplace environment, they can handle it,” said Pollock.
Improv training primes my students so when the stakes get high in the actual workplace environment, they can handle it.”
The course’s grand finale is PowerPoint Karaoke, in which a small group of students must present an impromptu report in front of their audience of peers. As they present, never-before-seen presentation slides are displayed for them to incorporate into their discussion. This enables deep practice in quick thinking, managing ambiguity and building on ideas together.
“Research shows that confidence comes from experience,” said Pollock. “So, I fast-track it with experiential learning to enable my students to get out of their heads and into the present moment. They learn to trust their instincts, recover from mistakes instead of freeze up, and thrive outside of their comfort zones.”
Pollock has had several success stories return to her from the course. A manager who did public presentations overcame a technology failure during his presentation. An employee better navigated workplace conflicts by leaning into tough discussions. A consultant pivoted and became attuned to her client’s changing needs to maintain relevance. A sales professional who once felt petrified during conversations with clients adapted to the flexibility of each moment. Many managers incorporated improv activities from the course into staff meetings to enhance team cohesion.
“Improv training primes my students so when the stakes get high in the actual workplace environment, they can handle it,” said Pollock.
