How can we be clear and honest without fear of offence? How can we bring together all of our knowledge and skills without ending up fighting for territory? And how do we make sure that we are really fostering psychological safety, rather than just saying we are?
Although improv is based on the principle of ‘Yes, And’, this does not mean we are obliged to agree with everything. Too much positivity is as dangerous as none. Better to clearly discuss our experiences. This involves speaking clearly and honestly, but also knowing how to listen to others as well.
Saying what you mean and creating an environment where everyone else can too is an essential skill in any workplace. Done well, it allows swift, fluid development, prevents tensions from building up, and helps maintains healthy boundaries.
In this workshop, participants are given opportunities to experiment with when and how to speak their minds in a context where there are no ‘real-life’ outcomes. They will examine the difference between politeness and consideration and learn the efficiency and ease of clear communication. Lastly, they will examine the idea of listening, how we do it, and what it means.
This session is a minimum of two hours and can be followed up with an opportunity for further discussion and even a psychological safety survey conducted by our collaborators, Improv Communication.