ImprovBoston Launches IBcreative Division for Corporate Training

With increased demand for corporate training, ImprovBoston announces a new division: IBcreative, the Central Square comedy theater's professional development arm. Specially trained facilitators engage employees from a wide cross-section of industries in the fundamentals of improvisation to foster collaboration and creative thinking - building a "Culture of Yes." In a "Culture of Yes," leaders encourage imagination and creativity, support new ideas, reward risks, and reframe failure as a crucial step to success. The applications of improvisation increase productivity, innovation, collaboration, active listening, confidence, creative thinking, flexibility, and teamwork and help transform challenging moments into positive experiences - skills essential in improving bottom lines.

"When employers practice saying 'yes' instead of 'no,' employees feel empowered to take informed risks and contribute their innovations to the company. When the fear of failure is no longer an obstacle, the next great idea can come from anywhere... and anyone," explains Deana Criess, IBcreative director. "Penicillin, the microwave, Velcro, and the Slinky came from fearless innovators saying yes to the powerful discoveries they found in their 'failed' ideas."

"Through improv, employees learn to truly collaborate and work together as a team. They learn to support each other unconditionally and embrace failure as a stepping stone to innovation. The result is an environment where respect, gratitude, and joy are the norm. Each employee is more connected to their work, their team, and their company," adds Criess.

IBcreative works with such for-profit and non-profit organizations as Facebook, Google, Procter & Gamble, Novartis, Fidelity, Harvard Business School, and Boston Children's Hospital, providing:

• Custom improv workshops on such topics as team building, innovation, public speaking, day-to-day communication, transforming conflict, group transition and growth, management, sales, and relationship building/customer service
• Customized entertainment experiences including improv and/or standup shows
• Creative services (writers, actors, original music, or project development for videos, film, brainstorming sessions, and networking events)
• Executive coaching and public speaking training
• School workshops including anti-bullying, STEM + Art = STEAM workshops to promote innovation, and the Many Voice, One Goal: Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion workshop

IBcreative's experienced facilitators also help managers explore one of the most vital skills for leadership: the ability to adapt. "In our sessions, managers learn to get out of their heads and discover the contagious spirit of true in-the-moment collaboration. In improvisation, we think on our feet, analyze a situation, and react in real time; not only is change necessary in improv, we thrive on it," explains ImprovBoston Artistic Director Mike Descoteaux. "When we connect with people openly and honestly, we can adapt to changing scenarios as a team. This 'group mind' allows every employee to contribute meaningfully to the bigger picture and to invest in the shared success of the organization."

How improv works

The concepts improvisers use onstage to create hilarious shows are the same concepts employers can use to create the "Cultures of Yes."

Say "Yes"

Improv is rooted in the idea that we agree with our scene partner. When we agree, we say "Yes" and open ourselves to true collaboration. Agreement allows improvisers to confidently explore the unknown, to harness creativity. By saying "Yes" in the corporate environment, the foundation of improvisation can help a company find the next big idea, too.

Say "And"

The second rule of improvisation is "And." After we say yes to a new idea, we wholeheartedly build on it by saying "and." "YES, we can build a lighter rocket AND we can make it faster." "Yes, And" ensures collaboration. Success in business never comes in a vacuum. What starts as one person's vision catches fire when other folks are inspired, invested, and contributing.

Support each other

Improvisers serve the show, not themselves. When a team member makes an offer onstage, every improviser supports it. In business, we often get hung up on owning ideas or competing internally. Everyone goes farther faster when we all agree to support each other. The team's success is everyone's success, onstage and in business.

Fail big

Failure is not the enemy. Fear is. Onstage, every moment, every offer, every movement, and even every "mistake" is a gift: something to be mined, learned from, and built on. Some of the biggest innovations in history have come from "failures." The only way to truly fail in improvisation is to let fear take over.

Make a choice

Take a risk. Inactivity makes for bad theater and bad business. Improv helps us live in the moment, think faster, build confidence, and get things moving. Businesses grow and thrive when they have momentum. A better, more creative, more engaging, and inspiring workplace starts with a single choice.

Photo by Caitlin Cunningham

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