I am currently working with my students to play a game called Changes. You do a scene and then the director says “Change” and you must change your last sentence. Here’s a good example:
I wish my students could be so good. I wish I were so good. But practice makes you better. I don’t think in perfect improv so we practice changes. Practice is fun. It’s hilarious.
It’s actually much harder to change than the professionals make it seem. When I say “change,” my students have an idea of how the scene will go. They have to not only change their lines, but also their entire plan. It’s not a good idea to plan your improv scenes in your head. We’re working hard on this.
Make changes
Unrelated to this, I received a message asking for career advice from a close friend. He is in a position where his old job is no longer viable and he has to find a new career.
He rejected every suggestion.
There are many reasons why this wouldn’t work, or why he could not do that.
In reality, it is possible that some of my ideas won’t work. Some of them may work. If only one of them worked, he would be much better off.
What is it that you are sure will not work? What was he doing?
You have to change things if you want to see a difference.
Change begins with you
You. You.
Although you can hope that someone else will change, and sometimes they do, the only one you can control is yourself.
If you want to achieve different results, then do something different. If your boss takes advantage, you should change the way you respond to him.
Change your approach to work if you’re not earning enough. Try out a different job. Take a course. I recommend taking an improv course.
Change is as simple as shouting it in your head.
What if you fail?
Yes, of course.
I wish there was a way for me to do everything in one go, but unfortunately I don’t. Make a change. If it works great! If it does not work, try another approach.
What if I am fired?
You shouldn’t poison your boss’s coffee.
Termination may be the result of some changes. The truth is that not changing can also lead to termination.
Change something if you do not like the way things are going. Change something. Report back to me on the results.
Coming soon:
Join me and Victoria Purser SPHR,SHRM-SCP for HR Vision ’25 if you are looking to make real changes in your career. We’ll help you make changes to your career that will take it to the next level.
