I am a teacher of improv comedy. There’s no HR in the improv classes. This story is not about improv leadership development. My favorite class is Monday: the final performance.
The classes last 4 weeks and we allow 30 minutes for friends and families to come and watch the students perform. I have been teaching these classes since a long time and the students always do a great job.
They are hilarious in class but having an audience really amplifies it. They have a stronger character. The “yes-ing” has become more energetic. Their physicality has risen to a new level.
Each and every time
They also say that they are nervous every time and do not really want an audience. They get an audience.
They need to be told that you can’t really see your true potential until you increase the stakes.
Have you increased your stakes in the game?
At the Paris Olympic Games last summer, athletes set 17 new records. This is a low number for an Olympics. In Beijing, in 2008, 30 world records were set by athletes. If stakes were not important, then we would expect people to set records during practices. Even if the timing was official, it wouldn’t matter. There’s just something about competing that gets you to go higher and faster.
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If you are feeling stuck I asked you: Have your stakes been raised?
Have you tried anything new? Have you taken on a new challenge? You spoke up in a meeting, when you usually sit quietly?
You can be safe, but not great.
It’s a lot of fun to take an improv course and I recommend it to everyone! An improv classroom is a very safe place. Everyone is in the same boat and one of the basic principles is <a class="kGxuXIBkIGocxHMllMykPZBnBBoXBSYc" data-test-app-aware-link="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/value-bombing-suzanne-lucas-lq5ce/?" Everyone tends to support each other when you "fail with delight". In my classes, this is definitely the case. YMMV.) You will never be able to make an audience laugh if you don't take the risk of getting on stage and in front an audience.
The same goes for your career. You can choose a job that is safe. There is nothing wrong with this.You may be very satisfied with it, and that is fine. If you are not satisfied with this, then you should raise the stakes.
Or a lot.
Come see my beginner improvisers in Basel, if you are there on Monday. I promise laughter. They always do better when there is a lot at stake!
