How improv helps you get energy and creativity
Energy is a vital component of creativity and productivity. Chris Baréz‑Brown and his team at Upping Your Elvis have been exploring various ways to boost energy through their "energy experiments", where they get experts in a field of energy to give them a challenge for a month to see if it helps their energy. One of the most impactful experiments involved using improv to inject vitality and dynamism into their work routines. Partnering with Neil Mullarkey they discovered how improv could rejuvenate their team and enhance overall performance.
For the past 15 years Upping Your Elvis has dedicated itself to helping companies enhance their innovation capability. Creativity is a crucial component of innovation and improv serves as an excellent tool to ignite that creativity. In fact, says founder Chris Baréz‑Brown, the company often incorporated improv warm-ups into its innovation projects and training sessions.
“Many of us have undergone various improv training sessions over the years so it’s a familiar concept. Improv provides a fun, energetic and fluid approach to creativity, making it a valuable resource for our work,” he says.
When done well, he adds, improv naturally fosters creativity. Participants often experience an increase in energy, relaxation and authenticity. They let their guards down, connect better with others and ultimately hit several key objectives Upping Your Elvis aims for in its work. “It’s a perfect fit for our goals,” says Chris.
So, when he sought an expert to set a month-long challenge to boost their energy levels, improv seemed like a natural fit. “We hadn’t done it ourselves as an exercise,” Chris explains. “So we thought, who is the best on the planet at this and Neil’s name came up. And I thought, I love his vibe, let’s do it!”
The sessions
Unlike some of the experts Chris and the team use for their “energy experiments” who provide written challenges for them to get on with, renowned improv performer Neil Mullarkey, who co-founded The Comedy Store Players with Mike Myers of Austin Powers fame, attended live digitally each week. Eight team members, ranging from the financial and logistics director to digital lead, took part.
Week one: The ‘word at a time’ exercise
The first week kicked off with the ‘word at a time’ exercise, a classic improv warm-up designed to encourage spontaneous creativity and teamwork. In this exercise, participants build a sentence one word at a time. For example, one person might start with "never," the next adds "eat" followed by "cheese" and so on until a complete sentence is formed.
Chris reflects on the initial impact of this exercise: “The ‘word at a time’ exercise is a fantastic way to break the ice. It forced us to listen carefully to each other and build on what the last person said, without overthinking. It was a simple yet powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration and being present in the moment."
This exercise helped the team let go of their need for control and precision, which is often a significant barrier in a professional setting. By focusing on the collective creation of sentences, the team learned to trust each other's contributions and adapt quickly to the evolving narrative.
Week two: The ‘that's good because’ exercise
In the second week Neil introduced the ‘that's good because’ exercise, which fostered positive thinking and quick, creative responses. Participants took turns stating something and the next person responded with "That's good because…" followed by a positive spin on the statement. For example, someone might say: "Superman went on holiday to Bermuda" and the response could be, "That's good because he can take Lois Lane."
This exercise also enhances team dynamics and problem-solving skills. By encouraging collaboration and open-mindedness, it promotes a culture of innovation and engagement, essential for business success.
Week three: The ‘Swedish story’ exercise
The third week brought the ‘Swedish story’ exercise, a collaborative storytelling activity that involved one person starting a story and leaving gaps for others to fill in. This exercise enhances listening skills and adaptability, as participants have to build on each other's contributions to create a cohesive narrative.
Chris describes the experience: "The 'Swedish story' exercise requires you to be fully engaged and listen intently to each other. You have to adapt quickly to the twists and turns of the story, which mirrors the unpredictability we face in the business world."
This exercise not only improves a team's ability to think on their feet but also strengthens communication skills. By co-creating stories, people learn to value each other's input and build on it, fostering a more collaborative and inclusive environment.
Week four: The ‘three line scene’ exercise
In the final week, Neil introduced the ‘three line scene’ exercise, which demanded concise, impactful communication. Participants had to tell a complete story in just three lines, such as: "I'm filing for divorce." "I thought you would." "I'm in love with your brother."
Chris notes the significance of this exercise: "The 'three line scene' exercise is incredibly challenging but rewarding. It teaches importance of brevity and clarity in communication. We had to convey complex emotions and narratives in just a few words, which is a valuable skill in leadership."
This exercise emphasises the need for leaders to communicate effectively and efficiently, especially in high-pressure situations. It also reinforces the importance of being direct and to the point, which can help cut through the noise and ensure that key messages are understood.
Creating a safe and supportive environment
A key factor in the success of these improv exercises was the creation of a safe and supportive environment. Neil's approach was instrumental in this, as he demonstrated each exercise first himself. "Neil's very good at creating a safe, connected space," Chris explains. "He always demos it and I am sure he deliberately gets things wrong himself. Then everyone else goes, 'Look, we all slip up. We all get words a bit mixed. That's okay. I can do that too’."
This approach made it easier for team members to step out of their comfort zones and fully engage in the exercises. The focus was on learning and growth rather than perfection, which allowed participants to relax and enjoy the process.
The impact on team energy and creativity
"Those who improv together get tighter together," says Chris. “It’s a powerful tool for revitalising the team's energy and fostering a vibrant, collaborative work culture.
"When you do this type of stuff it's very good for connection and relational energy," he says. "We've shared some quite fun experiences. And it's not the usual transactional work experience; it's something deeper about yourself."
Improv also helps teams become more comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty. "We've all got more comfortable about not having a plan," Chris explains. "What's lovely about improv is there is a starting direction and then you make sense of stuff. And actually, I think that's quite liberating for people in business."
Chris’s collaboration with Neil highlights the transformative power of improv in boosting energy and creativity. Through a series of carefully designed exercises, Chris's team at Upping Your Elvis experienced a significant increase in their energy levels, creativity and overall engagement. The principles of improv – spontaneity, collaboration, positive thinking, active listening and concise communication – are invaluable tools for revitalising a team's work routines.
Improv helps leaders and teams let go of rigid plans and embrace a more dynamic approach to problem-solving. As Chris puts it: "Improv fosters a mindset that is essential for thriving in an unpredictable world." By incorporating improv into their training programmes, organisations can unlock new levels of energy, creativity and collaboration.