\"Get more comfortable with silence. There's an exercise in improv where you count from one to ten. It forces you to pause, process, form, and then speak.\"
This week on the How to Thrive podcast, Claire and Helen are joined by Jess Rogers, a conversations and improv trainer, and founder of Tama Learning. Jess will already be familiar to those who joined us at How to Thrive Manchester, where she brought the house down with her session on improv for managing change. She'll be doing it all again in London in October.
Her day job sits across a spectrum from classic learning and development, all the way through to performing and teaching pure improv with groups like Banana Hut Gang and Blanche Improv in London. Everything she does, she says, comes back to conversations.
In this episode, Claire and Helen talk to Jess about what improv actually is, why “yes and…” is widely misunderstood, and how accepting someone else's reality before adding your own perspective can transform the way you show up.
We also explore the surprising overlap between improv skills and the skills that underpin every high-performing team.
It's also one of the most joyful conversations we've recorded! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
More about Jess:
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How to Thrive events:
Our events are a chance to come together with other Community Members to network and share learnings in a safe space. All of our events are focussed on HOW to thrive and deliver practical skills that you can incorporate into your work and home lives. Visit our website to find out more.
Your How to Thrive hosts:
Claire Sanders, former Corporate Lawyer, General Counsel and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.
Helen Silver-MacMahon, Human Factors Specialist, Veterinary Nurse and Co-Founder of Being Human Consulting.
Music Credit: Lo-Fi Hip Hop (Never Old Fashioned) by Alex Kizenkov
Podcast Production: Anthony Zahra
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