Guest post by Liz Caradonna, an associate at Zócalo Group and a lifelong improviser

In improv, “yes, and” is shorthand for the state of being completely open, accepting and uncritical toward the contributions of your scene partner. So accepting, in fact, that you’re able to embrace and extend your partner’s ideas as if they were your own. Someone on stage just called you “Grandpa”? Accept and further that. Yes, you are their Grandpa. And… perhaps Grandpa has some riveting stories to share from his time serving overseas.

Congratulations! You’re improvising. Improv is not really about being funny. It is about collaboration – a deep, connected state of cooperation between people in the act of creation. At its most collaborative, improv is joyful, effortless, and exhilarating. What if you could make your office feel like that? (more…)