We talk to Lisa Linke about what improvisation can teach us about communication and collaboration. Lisa is an MBA consultant who has become a veteran improviser, actor and writer. She is a corporate communications workshop facilitator, executive presence coach, and storytelling maven that has helped clients like Google, Coca-Cola and Unilever. Lisa has appeared on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Modern Family. She is also the co-creator and host of Go Help Yourself: A Comedy Self-Help Podcast To Make Life Suck Less.
3:06 - life is abundant.
6:26 - MBA consultant who turned to acting.
9:50 - pursuing the path less travelled led to more admiration than judgement.
12:07 - acting started from a young age.
13:15 - managing your energy when you need to be "on" in front of people.
15:40 - my best is different at every moment.
17:56 - it's impossible to do it all.
19:55 - what is improvisation.
22:01 - we've learnt to supress our ability to be spontaneous.
24:14 - I can say anything! vs "I can say anything?"
25:30 - improv is the art form of putting the focus on the other person.
26:16 - what improv can teach us about being better listeners.
28:30 - we communicate better when we are in the moment.
30:23 - the audience is rooting for you.
31:22 - The improv philosophy of "yes, and..."
35:35 - you can influence more by listening than by speaking.
36:10 - the ability to listen impacts every relationship.
40:16 - using "yes, and..." to improve collaboration.
44:15 - creating a safe space where people can share ideas.
46:39 - how to bring a brick, not a cathedral.
48:29 - the best worst idea.
50:04 - nothing speaks louder than who you are.
51:25 - walking ten thousand steps per day is a lie!
52:51 - teaching presence to executives.
55:48 - no one cares what your head is doing.
57:30 - being intentional about how you come across: put the audience first.
1:00:55 - the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition.
1:03:52 - getting involved in improv.
1:04:39 - the benefits of improv.
1:06:10 - connect with Lisa.
1:07:18 - live improv exercise!
1:09:45 - debrief on the improve exercise.
You can find more detailed show notes with links to references at: https://candourpodcast.com/lisa-linke/