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How Tina Fey’s Rules for Improv Can Improve

Your Business and Culture Culture and Communication

Presented by:

Dallan Guzinski

NCEO

Oakland, CA

510-208-1301

dguzinski@nceo.org

• As taught to us by one of

America’s leading corporate

executives…

IMPROV FOR BUSINESS???

IMPROV FOR BUSINESS???

IMPROV FOR BUSINESS???

• Creating something from nothing

• We do this every single day

• But… how does it relate to business?

WHY IMPROV?

• Creating something from nothing

• Marketing campaigns

• Communication education strategies

• New products or lines of business

• New processes or improvements

• Dealing with customer complaints

• Names of your company ultimate Frisbee

team??

APPLIED IMPROV

• Do you want…

• More creativity from employees?

• More collaboration and support among

colleagues?

• Better communication?

• Trust?

• Less anxiety and fear?

APPLIED IMPROV

• Improv helps create safe spaces for

participation by combating fear and

creating support, openness, and affirmation

• Fear is the biggest impediment to:

• Participation

• Creative thinking

• Healthy relationships

• Input

APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR

• In what places or environments have you

felt the MOST amount of fear when it

comes to:

• Expressing yourself openly and honestly

• Making mistakes

• Being bold or taking risks

• Using your imagination

• Feeling validated or accepted

APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR

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• In what places or environments have you

felt the LEAST amount of fear when it

comes to:

• Expressing yourself openly and honestly

• Making mistakes

• Being bold or taking risks

• Using your imagination

• Feeling validated or accepted

APPLIED IMPROV COMBATS FEAR

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• 1. Agree

• 2. Say, “YES, AND…”

• 3. Make Statements

• 4. There Are No Mistakes

TINA FEY’S RULES FOR IMPROV

• Creates a space where people feel safe to

share ideas or provide input

• Postpone judgement

• Support and respect what your partner has

created

Rule #1: AGREE, AND SAY “YES”

• Appreciation

• Acknowledgement

• Being Heard

• Validation

• Encouragement

• Acceptance

• Support

Rule #1: SAY “YES”

• Dinner, Movie, Vacation

“NO” or “Yes, but…” thinking

• How does this differ?

• What emotions do you feel?

• What are the consequences?

• Do the exercise again, but this time…

“NO” or “Yes, but…” thinking

• Don’t just stand there… CONTRIBUTE!

• How are your feelings different in this

scenario?

• The additive approach unlocks the what’s

possible

• Affirms and builds

Rule #2: YES, AND…

• UNLEASH CREATIVITY!!!

Rule #2: YES, AND…

• How does this apply to business?

• Interpersonal / Team Communications

• Feedback

• Brainstorming

• Problem Solving

• Avoiding antagonism

Rule #2: YES, AND…

• Too many questions are

not only exhausting, but

it puts all the pressure

on your teammates

• Statements encourage

confidence and

participation

• Include yourself; provide

solutions, not obstacles

Rule #3: MAKE STATEMENTS

• Focus on the positive first

• Don’t be too quick to edit

• Risk aversion and negativity will inhibit

innovation and willingness to participate in

the creative process

Rule #3: MAKE STATEMENTS

Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES

“I have not failed. I just

found 10,000 ways that

won’t work.”

–Thomas Edison

Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES

• Mistakes are inevitable

• Adaptation and agility are major keys to

company success

• Learn from mistakes and look for

opportunities

• Stop, take a step back, and think about a

problem differently. Re-frame your

questions.

Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES

• 3M’s “Post-It’ was the result of one huge

failure

• Spencer Silver develops it by accident in

1968 with little interest from the company

• Arthur Fry utilized 3M’s “permitted

bootlegging” policy to develop the idea

after using the adhesive for hymnal

bookmarks

• It is now 3M’s biggest money-maker

Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES

• Exercise: Think back on a time where you

or your team experienced failure. Try to

extract three different positive outcomes

from that experience.

• What did you learn?

• Did other opportunities come out of this

failure?

Rule #4: THERE ARE NO MISTAKES

• 1. Agree (start with “YES”)

• 2. YES, AND… (Affirm and build)

• 3. Make statement (make positive

contributions to your teams work)

• 4. THERE ARE NO MISTAKES (Be agile,

adapt, and look for other opportunities)

TINA FEY’S RULES FOR IMPROV

• Yes, and: How Improvisation Reverses ‘No,

but’ Thinking and Improves Creativity and

Collaboration

• Kelly Leonard & Tom Yorton, Second City

• The Improvisation Edge

• Karen Hough

• IMPROVing Agile Teams

• Paul Goddard

• Many other resources out there on Applied

Improv! Investigate and have fun!

OTHER READING

Dallan Guzinski

National Center for Employee Ownership

1627 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 200

Oakland, CA 94612

510-208-1301

dguzinski@nceo.org

www.nceo.org

Questions ?