I had the pleasure of teaching 9-12th grade drama for a decade. My favorite unit was always improvisation, when even the most internalized kids would display surprisingly creative, even outrageously funny ideas in front of their peers. I would often wonder: What is it about improv that unleashed the artist in each of my students?
Well... It has simple rules. The primary rule: Everything you hear--every "offer"--must be received with a "Yes, and..." in action, dialogue, or attitude. With gusto.
Essentially, this boils down to "You can't say 'no'!"
The other rules vary with each "game," but they're nonessential. They only provide enough structure to begin; whatever happens after that is up to the players.
Flexibility is key.
So what does this mean for adults in the workplace or community? Is it reasonable to cultivate this kind of flexibility in high-pressure or low-morale environments? Now that I'm a facilitator, I've been yearning to experiment with this question and with creativity exercises in general. Too often in meetings, participants are asked to brainstorm without boundaries, but I wonder if simple rules and a playful tone could yield better results.
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