4 It Starts with a “Yes, and!”: Communication Lessons from the Improv Stage

“Let the 4th Ave Dance Battle begin!” my scene partner yelled as he began stretching his arms. And just like that, the gauntlet was thrown. I had been challenged to an improv dance battle and, without taking a beat, I threw myself to the floor and did my very best attempt at “the worm.” I am not a dancer, or agile in any way shape or form, but my total commitment to a dance move that was well out of my skill range had the audience in stitches and left me feeling elated. This improv scene, like so many others I have done, showcased the many skills I have learned as an improviser: confidence, adaptability, and creativity. Most importantly, my willingness to listen intently to my scene partner and add to his ideas reveal the powerful lessons I have learned about communication.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) identifies “communication” as a key skill for career-readiness and defines it as the ability to “clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization” (“Competencies for…”). As a leadership educator, I exchange information with different audiences throughout the day. This looks like bouncing between collaborative work communicating with colleagues on an event idea, presenting a lesson plan to a group of diverse students, or holding a one-on-one meeting with my supervisor. Improv has equipped me to be a nimble communicator, adapting to different settings and audiences quickly and with confidence.

When I think about the many communication lessons I have learned that I carried from the improv stage into my world of work, there are four that rise to the top:

Pay close attention: Improvisers pay attention to everything their scene partners do – every gesture, emotion, pause, and statement can become a catalyst for the scene. Being attuned to what is happening on stage means being present in the moment and not letting the mind wander. I think of this often when communicating outside of improv. In conversation, I frequently find myself crafting my response before someone has stopped talking. When I mentally wordsmith what I want to say, I know I am not giving my conversation partners the benefit of my full attention.

It is also essential to pay equal attention on how someone is communicating. I recall doing an improv scene where my partner didn’t say a single word but held her arms tight to her chest and gave me furtive looks. This behavior read as “shy” and “uncomfortable,” and I quickly assumed the role of a kindergarten teacher coaxing a nervous student on her first day. Emotionally intelligent communicators pick up on subtle cues being given off such as tone of voice and body posture and respond with not just the right words, but with the right emotional delivery.

Build on the ideas of others: The golden rule of improv is to “yes, and” your scene partners. “Yes, and-ing” means acknowledging your teammates’ ideas and building upon them in your own unique ways. A successful “yes, and” requires the foundational belief that the end product will be a blending of ideas, an equal contribution from all involved. In an improv scene, a “yes, and” could look like me initiating a scene on Mars and my scene partner adding on that we are also running the first Starbucks on Mars. Hilarity ensues. In non-improv life, a “yes, and” means seeking to acknowledge the validity of an idea rather than shutting it down. When I am brainstorming ideas for leadership events with my team, I encourage us to “yes, and” by building upon each other’s ideas rather than listing all the limitations that might exist. Instead of poking holes in an idea (“yes, but”), we work to honor each other’s ideas first and add to them to create a unique product.

Be clear and concise: When I first started to improvise, I remember being told that I was adding too much at the top of my scenes. I was throwing out superfluous details and taking up too much air time. While I thought that all these details were in service of the scene, making them more robust and engaging, what I was actually doing was making things too complicated for my scene partners. No matter what setting you are in — giving a speech, contributing in a meeting, talking to a friend or partner — you will benefit from keeping your statements short and sweet. What are the “must knows?” and how can you get those across without too much filler?

Gain familiarity: People are always surprised when I tell them I rehearse every week with my improv team. They think, don’t you just make stuff up, what is there to practice? While rehearsal helps with form and confidence, it is also a critical time to learn more about my teammates’ approach to scene work and to become comfortable with them as people. As a leader at work, it is important that I spend the requisite time with my team learning about their strengths, diverse beliefs, experiences, communication differences, how they give and receive feedback, and what brings them joy. And, as is inevitable, when communication breaks down and we experience tension or conflict, having a solid foundation to return to is made easier by having a deep trust and respect for each other.

The communication lessons I have learned on the improv stage have impacted all areas of my life. What started as a fun hobby reinforced for me that learning continues long after graduation and can occur in the places you least expect it.

Works Cited

“Competencies for a Career-Ready Workforce.” National Association of Colleges and Employers, https://www.naceweb.org/uploadedfiles/files/2021
/resources/nace-career-readiness-competencies-revised-apr-2021.pdf. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022.

About the author

name: Jessica Hill

Jessica Hill is an Assistant Professor of Practice with the Gen Ed program at the UA. Her research interests focus on creativity, leadership, playful pedagogy, and improv comedy. When not teaching, Jessica is a company member and instructor with the Tucson Improv Movement. Jessica believes that many of the most important lessons she has learned about life and leadership were acquired while “yes and-ing” on the improv stage.