News ArticlesBrowse in : [ Training & Development ] Centre Stage: Using Improvisation as a Training ToolPerforming for success: Can improv be an effective training tool? How do you encourage workers to free their creative energies? An increasing number of managers say thrusting them onto centre stage to role-play with their colleagues can do just the trick.How do you encourage workers to free their creative energies? An increasing number of managers say thrusting them onto centre stage to role-play with their colleagues can do just the trick. Today's business world requires quick thinking, flexibility, and an ability to see things from multiple perspectives. Improv - like other forms of experiential training - takes workers out of their usual environments, presents them with unusual problems and encourages bonding, collaboration and communication. But as writer Celene Adams reports, improv initiatives need management support to have a lasting effect. A group of men and women from some of Canada's top firms sit in a circle. Sam, a sales manager with a large manufacturing company, stands up and mentally prepares for his turn. His task: to recall everyone's name and the gesture they just made, such as sticking out their tongue or scratching their knee. All heads in the circle turn to Sam. He thumbs his nose at everyone and begins: "Amanda, Roger, Mario….” Sam is flapping his arms and puffing out his cheeks, recalling others' gesticulations and names fairly well until he gets to the woman sitting directly to his right. For the life of him, he can't remember her name. He laughs and gives up, passing to Andrew - the man on his left. Andrew salutes his peers. Then - starting again with the first person's name and gesture - he works around the circle to Sam. But, when he gets to Sam, Andrew also draws a blank.There are no comments attached to this item. Ratings |
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