An improv teacher explains why accepting others' ideas matters at work and onstage. Find one thing you have in common with each coworker, even the difficult ones. Grab coffee or take a walk to discover what you share.
Improv Asylum, 30 Days of Yes, And. Day 27. Our idea for today is to accept and build. In improvisation, we're always listening to each other's ideas. We accept them and then we build off of them. Also, you're performing with people and odds are you're coming from different backgrounds. No matter how similar you are, you're all coming from a unique and diverse background and how well you're able to incorporate and work with one another really determines the kind of successful and interesting scenes that you have. Work is no different. You all come from interesting backgrounds. So, ask yourself, how well do I work with and build off of the other people in my office, in my workplace? And so today, take a few minutes and sit and think of each person you work with and think about what one thing in common do I have with each of these people? That's something for you to build off of. And if you find a person you're like, I have nothing in common with that person. I just don't get them. Which I'm sure never happens. Maybe you've got a lunch date. Take that person out. Go for a walk. Go get some coffee or something and just get to know them a little better. Odds are you have something in common. So accept, accept them for who they are. Appreciate them for who they are and see if you can build a relationship off of that. That's your idea, your activity for today, day 27, 30 Days of Yes And. Have a great day.
