Improvise to be confident teammate

#51, Oct 4, 2024

Vasi is here. Following-the-fear Vasi.

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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 31 seconds.

I started something I had been hesitant to do for a long time.

I started attending an improv class at Shizi Impro Theater led by Zlatin Tsvetkov (a professional improviser, known to the listeners of our podcast as a guest in one of our most popular episodes).

Why should you care about this?

I find that the principles of group improvisation are equally applicable to how we work as a team.

What’s the issue about?

The more I explore group improvisation, the more I get fascinated by the principles behind it.

Improvising and the games used in it provide you with a safe and fun environment where you can master skills in communication, teamwork, active listening, collaboration, self-expression, proactivity, public speaking, adaptability,… (yes, the list is long)…

I can put it more simply:

Dear introverts, suffering from imposter syndrome (like me) – improv just makes our lives easier. It’s worth it.

And with this issue, I want to make a transition between improvisation and the teamwork of dev people.

Here are some of the key principles in improvisation.

Understanding and practicing them can turn us into a confident teammate who everyone wants to work with.

Just like in improv – who is the best improviser?

Answer: the one everyone wants to get on stage and improvise with.

Enjoy!

No 1: “Yes, and…” principle

You might be surprised that improvisation, which teaches you to express yourself freely and openly, still has its rules.

The “Yes, and…” principle is one of the fundamental and mandatory ones.

→ From improv:

When you go on stage to improvise with a partner or group, you have a duty—Don’t block the scene. You have to accept your partner’s idea and respond positively to whatever they say to you. Only this way can you move the story forward and extend the plot.

→ To our daily work:

When you hear a teammate’s idea, first allow yourself to consider it.

We’re used to quickly killing ideas that don’t immediately grab our attention—whether because we don’t fully understand them, think they’re too unrealistic, or assume they’d be difficult to execute.

At your next brainstorming session, where you need to generate possible solutions to a problem—don’t rush. Instead, apply the “Yes, and…” principle.

It helps you explore unfamiliar territories, where you might discover an entire unknown continent.

Some of the coolest ideas in our team were born from wild and bold suggestions, mentioned by someone (even completely as a joke).

See How to tell somebody their idea sucks?

No 2: When you’re in doubt about where to take a scene, break the routine

→ From improv:

As our course lecturer, Zlatin Tsvetkov, often tells us during improv practices: “If you think someone in the group needs to do something right now because the performance is falling flat… that someone is YOU.”

→ To our daily work:

If you think you and your team are moving in the wrong direction—take action to make it better… for everyone.

Good teammates don’t just complain when they see problems. They point out how things can be done better and identify ways to improve processes within their teams.

This is a demonstration of leadership behavior. And any one of us can exercise leadership at any point.

See 8 ways to demonstrate leadership

No 3: “I have your back”

→ From improv:

Improvisation is a team sport. If you step on stage with the mindset that you’re the best, that the spotlight should only be on you, you kill the scene, and the performance will fall flat.

The next essential principle for improvisers is: “I have your back”.

A successful improv scene can’t happen if you don’t collaborate with your scene partner. It’s not about you. It’s about what you contribute to the group. Your goal in the performance is to make others look better and to help move the story forward.

“Improv actors are at war together,” as Keegan-Michael Key, professional improviser, shares in an interview. When you start improvising, it builds intimacy between you and others, and you create a shared sense of belonging.

→ To our daily work:

Don’t strive for personal glory by competing with your teammates. Work WITH them. Be committed to the team norms and decisions.

In great teams, people manage their egos and commit 100% to team decisions, even when they disagree.

Hari from our gang illustrated one of the belonging cue that we send to others to inform them whether we think they are part of our tribe (team, group, community) – “Your pain is our pain”:

No 4: Mistakes are actually a gift

“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.”

― Peter McIntyre (artist)

→ From improv:

One of the beauties of improvisation: in fact, there is no such thing as a mistake.

Every change or deviation from the plot that someone makes is a gift to take advantage of.

Practicing group improvisation helps you be spontaneous, overcome your “inner critic”, and achieve a confident presence in any situation.

→ To our daily work:

Good specialists use mistakes as learning opportunities.

According to our TReE Team Model, one of the key elements of great dev teams is Adaptability.

Great teams are flexible when facing external constraints. They don’t complain about these limitations.

On the contrary—they accept reality and take action to turn these negative limitations to work in their favor. Great teams respond flexibly to external inputs and unforeseen situations. When something unexpected happens, they adapt quickly and handle the situation without problems.

No 5: Clarity, clarity, clarity – that’s all it should matters

→ From improv:

“Specificity kills the ambiguity,” as another professional improviser, Susan Messing, says.

It is the duty of everyone participating in the performance to give clarity to every moment. To provide details and specifics.

Improvisers are putting their ideas, thoughts, and emotions together to tell a clear, concise, and moving story.

→ To our daily work:

Uncertainty is killing team performance. You can gain authority in the eyes of your teammates, managers, and clients by proactively seeking greater clarity in an unclear environment—actively listening to your colleagues, providing constructive feedback, and asking questions, even to your formal leader, so that the situation becomes crystal clear.

Let’s Wrap Up:

These are some of the key principles in improvisation that will help you to build confidence in yourself, to be trusted by your teammates and be a teammate who everyone wants to work with:

⟹ No 1: “Yes, and…” principle

When you hear a teammate’s idea, first allow yourself to consider it.

⟹ No 2: When you’re in doubt about where to take a scene, break the routine

Don’t just complain when you see problems. Instead point out how things can be done better and identify ways to improve processes in your team.

⟹ No 3: “I have your back”

Don’t strive for personal glory by competing with your teammates. Work WITH them. Be committed to the team norms and decisions.

⟹ No 4: Mistakes are actually a gift

Good specialists use mistakes as learning opportunities.

⟹ No 5: Clarity, clarity, clarity – that’s all it should matters

Gain authority in the eyes of your teammates, managers, and clients by proactively seeking greater clarity in an unclear environment.

 

Stay Healthy, my dear Pill-er!
– Vasi

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