January 12, 2014

Arts in the Workplace

 (Improv Workshop with Nanda Abella  for Creative Pros at Creative Colony)  Photography by WanaImage.com 

Artists on a literal stage mirror the workplace, where we are on a figurative stage in our respective roles. These workshops use artistic expression and movement to create and/or enhance transferable skills in the workplace. Pre-assessment and post-assessment will be conducted to customize workshops to an organization’s needs and measure impact.

Nanda Abella, one of our Improv facilitators, is an Argentinean actress based in New York City. Before deciding to become a full-time professional actress, she worked in the field of international relations and communications.

How Companies Use Improv to Boost Creativity (via Inc.)

Improv Workshop

Ideally, an improv workshop should last at least two hours, and no more than four. If there are more than 15 participants, a second facilitator will be needed.

Here’s a testimonial from a participant in an improv workshop we held at PunchRock for social entrepreneurs and non-profit advocates.

“The ArtFullness Project pulled me right out of my comfort zone and into a world full of color, creativity, and openness. Nanda reminded me of the benefits of giving even the wildest ideas a chance.  We of course can’t say yes to everything in life and in the workplace, but if we are willing to explore new possibilities, we often have a lot more to gain by working together than by turning someone down even before they finish their sentence.”

Alanna Sobel, communications manager at National Park Foundation

Below, are a few examples of improv exercises that have proven to be useful for business professionals.

Sample Exercises

• Short movement exercises: To warm up the body and start connecting with the present moment.
• Walk around saying hello: Breaks underlying status and hierarchy in the room.
• Word at a time storyteller: Participants tell a story a word at a time. This encourages listening, trust and collaboration to make up a story together.
• Role play exercises: Negative creative meeting teaches how harmful the “yes, but” behavior can be, and Positive creative meeting shows the power of accepting new ideas, and building on them.
• What are you doing?: One participant is doing an activity; when asked what he/she is doing, the participant has to name a completely different activity. The next participant has to mime the activity named by the previous participant, but when asked, has to name a completely different one, etc. This exercise encourages creativity and frees the mind.
• One-phrase scenes: One participant is on the ‘stage’. A person comes up with an idea; the participant on stage has to go with it, and build from there. This exercise is all about trusting your spontaneity, accepting the ideas of others in an open and non-judgmental way, and building on from there.

Learn more about  Storytelling and Improv