Improv for Innovation provides individuals a skill set to improve communication, creative thinking and teamwork, while building innovation capabilities.
Creating a culture of innovation is deeply tied to managing people and teams. Embedded in effective teamwork are powerful capabilities and humanistic skills. By utilizing a toolkit, organizations and teams will be better equipped to face the complexity of innovating.
Without considering these humanistic approaches to innovation, innovation is random, ad hoc and not systematic resulting in higher costs, failed projects, and underutilization of resources. Through our three-step approach to learning Improv for Innovation, our workshops combine principles of improv with best practices for innovation.
Our workshops consist of a framework covering six principles of improv and through a series of connected exercises participants can apply the improv methodology to innovation. Exercises include both individual, paired and group work allowing for individual reflection and group learning. Workshops can be customized in three hour increments.
Course Audience:
• Departments, teams and cross-functional groups.
• Teams and leaders looking to expand their communication and productivity skill sets.
• Managers or supervisors looking to foster a creative problem-solving approach in their teams.
• Organizations looking to expand their capabilities and innovation repertoire.
Topics Covered:
• Application of the six principles of our improv framework which provide the foundation skills.
• Develop skills to build trust + accept vulnerability.
• Team productivity collaboration tools.
• Use and develop listening as a tool for innovation.
• Creative problem-solving.
• Accepting offers, non-judgment and non-verbal communication.
After This Workshop You Will:
• Expand capabilities that support front and back end innovation processes.
• Utilize the improv framework to improve innovation outcomes within teams.
• Gain an understanding of your client's needs.
• Have a skill set that improves teamwork and innovation efficiency.
• Know your team, department or new staff in an entirely different way.
• Receive a certificate of class completion.
Laughing Lunch for Management Design Thinking MBA course at USFSP.
Christine Alexander has harnessed the power of laughter through nearly 20 years of improvisational stage comedy, corporate team building and comedy wellness programs. She lives by the motto: “If it feels good to laugh, then laugh to feel good.” Christine delivers her proven improv-based training to companies and individuals around the world.
Dr. Steve Diasio is a Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Muma College of Business in the University of South Florida. He uses design thinking for problem solving in the areas of innovation, strategy and entrepreneurship. Steve is the founder of the Finger Puppet Management Framework and worked in a collaboration with the Patterson Foundation and Feld Entertainment.