What a great time it is to be a leader! There are so many different training techniques and programs for management and leadership development. Where once there were only traditional management programs focusing on the serious, hard side of business leadership, now the menu of options includes unconventional approaches for much needed leadership development of soft skills.
A fresh approach on the scene is improvisational training for organizational managers and leaders.
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One of the more intriguing leadership tools that this type of training promotes is the practice of saying ‘yes, and’ instead of ‘yes, but’, which is, according to the article, just ‘no, in a tuxedo’. When leaders promote a ‘yes’ approach it opens the door to possibilities and opportunities. Does this mean that a leader needs to agree by saying yes to everything that is put in front of them? Probably not. What it does mean, is that it is important for leaders to learn how to shape their reactions in a positive way instead of just shutting ideas, and the people with those ideas, down. This skill takes a lot of development and practice.
Management training should offer the opportunity to develop positive reactive and responsive skills for effective organizational leadership. Improv training might be an effective way to get this done.
Discussion Questions:
- How would you benefit from improv training in a leadership role?
- From all of the management and leadership training programs discussed in your course of study, which one would be the most effective?
- Do you think improv training is just a trend or is it a program that will find a sustainable future?
- If you had to recommend a particular manager for improv training, who would that be and why would you recommend them?