The Improvisation Edge

Secrets to Building Trust and Radical Collaboration at Work

Karen Hough

• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN:
  9781605095851
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781605096605
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Business General
• Index: Business

There are all kinds of books about building trust. But The Improvisation Edge is the only one that draws on the wisdom of those who are truly experts in the dynamics of trust-building: theatrical improvisers. Think about it: other than combat, no situation requires more extreme trust than improvisation. You have no script, costumes or set—nothing to depend on but your fellow improvisers. When you collaborate on such an intense level you intrinsically engender trust.Karen Hough describes four principles that will help leaders, managers, trainers, and front-line employees adopt the improviser's mindset. You'll learn techniques to create a positive environment, encourage fearless participation and selfless collaboration, play to your own and your colleagues' strengths, and turn surprises, mistakes and disasters into opportunities for something new, unexpected and maybe better than you planned. The Improvisation Edge offers a fun, engaging and very hands-on way to build the kind of organizational trust and collaboration that makes breakthrough business results possible.

Index

3M, 125

A

Aburdene, Patricia, 5

Adler, Roy D., 105

appreciative inquiry, 20

Aristotle, 148

Artime, Jeanne, 137, 138, 140–142

Asimov, Isaac, 124

B

Baer, Benji, 73

Barney, Frances, xiii

Belasco, Jim, 87

Berg, Eric, 67

BIS. See Coca-Cola

Blue Angels, 96

brainstorming, 47, 79–80

Bring a Block, 56–60, 78

Brock, John, 107–108, 114

Brown, Stuart, 49–50

Building Blocks

brainstorm exercise, 79–80

Bring a Block, 56–60, 78

components of, 46–47, 78

focus and, 58, 62–66, 80

in real life, 66–70

Jump In and Play, 47–51, 78

Legg Mason case study, 70–77

Shelve Your Ego, 51–56, 78

Yes And, 46, 48, 60–63

Bunny Bunny exercise, 100–104

C

Carnegie, Dale, 20

celebration, 148–149

charrette, 38–40

Churchill, Winston, 135

Citigroup, 70–71, 75

Close, Del, xi

Coca-Cola, 106–115

Coleman, Ornette, 133

collaboration

Building Blocks and, 50–52, 58

communication and, 10, 14, 27–28, 90–92, 103

improvisation and, xi, xiv, 86, 91, 147

negotiation and, 19–20

outcome and, 86

positivity and, xiv, 13

trust and, 5–6, 10–14

Yes Space and, 35, 40

Collins, Jim, 55–56

communication

branding and, 73

clear, 113

collaboration and, 10, 14, 27–28, 90–92, 103

Equity Not Equality and, 111

morale and, 35

trust and, 9–10, 14

Yes Space and, 40

complexity, 71

Computers for Youth, 136–143

Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, 35

Cooley, Denton, 87

creativity

Building Blocks and, 56, 63

Bunny Bunny and, 102

collaboration and, 18

Do ...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction Your Biggest Problem at Work and the Most Unexpected Solution
• The First Secret of Improvisation Yes! Space
• The Second Secret of Improvisation Building Blocks
• The Third Secret of Improvisation Team Equity
• The Fourth Secret of Improvisation Oops to Eureka!
• Conclusion Practice. Then Celebrate!
• Notes
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Author