Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Improv to innovate

Jessica Stillman explains the benefits that Improv can have to help your business innovate.

I’ve always thought that the quickest and smartest folks at the brainstorming phase of design have been those who do standup and improv. They never say no. They never miss a beat. Improv requires players to accept what they are given, build on the ideas of others, and encourage wild ideas.

Everyone thinks that they know how to brainstorm, but in fact, brainstorming is usually plagued by problems like self-censoring, competitiveness, and ridicule…. Improv is a great way for students to learn to defer judgment.

Observing without judgment is a crucial quality in life and business.