I think nothing I have done has been met with more resistance than making people do improv activities! The amount of resistance that I am met with dramatically varies depending on the group dynamics. Here are a few things that I have observed about reluctance to do improv.
Introverts = More Resistance
The more self-proclaimed introverts in a group, the more resistance there will be to doing improv activities. Introverts generally need more processing time, so activities like improv games that require them to think and respond quickly are not typically their favorite thing. They also tend to like smaller groups or one on one interactions over larger group activities.
Improv muscles are like the muscles in your body; the more you work them, the stronger they get.
Group trust is critical.
There is less trust within newer teams, and therefore members are often more resistant to these activities than with more established teams.
If you, as a facilitator, are experiencing pushback around doing improv activities, there is a three-phase approach in which you can intervene to increase engagement.
Phase 1: Planning
Be thoughtful as you are selecting your activities. You will want to consider the experience level of the group, the group size, and the goals of the activities. When possible, I find it helpful to talk to the more reluctant participants ahead of time so that they feel better prepared. Anything you can do to develop trust with a group before using these exercises and games is beneficial. Developing trust in a group can be complex, but the more time you invest in this, the better return you will see with improvisation activities. If you’re working with a newly established group – for example, at a seminar where people are coming from different organizations – it can be helpful to do a low-stakes icebreaker activity to build trust before jumping into more challenging improv exercises.
Phase 2: During the Activity
Explain the game or exercise clearly. Set expectations before starting an activity to guarantee that participants feel safe taking risks. For example, “in this game, there are no wrong answers,” or “it’s ok to make mistakes and get silly.” Ensure that there is time for everyone to participate. This prevents some of the team from regularly falling into a spectator role.
Phase 3: Post Activity
Take time to debrief the activity. I’ve found these questions to be simple and effective.
- What applicable skills do you need in this game that are also used in your job?
- What parts of this activity were challenging and why?
- What parts were enjoyable and why?
With good planning and preparation, you can facilitate improv games and exercises in a way that demonstrates to reluctant individuals that they are capable of building these muscles. In my next post, I will talk about how improv can help you build a more resilient team.
Want to know more about Empowered Development Consulting? Reach out to me, Meghan Scheidel, and find out how Empowered Development Consulting can help you.