IMPROV FOR PROFESSIONALS
Activate learning in the workplace
Improvising together helps to cultivate better communication, heightened creativity, and a greater sense of support in the workplace. Whether targeting presentation skills, team dynamic, or out of the box thinking, improv allows us to harness the tools necessary to collaborate more effectively in a fast-paced, unpredictable, results-driven world. I can tailor a virtual or in-person training program to meet the unique objectives of your organization. Read about various options below.
TEAM BUILDING
Improvising together helps to cultivate better communication, heightened creativity, and a stronger foundation of support and psychological safety in the workplace. This training aims to explore the ways in which radical acceptance and elevation of each other's ideas can help us become a more inclusive and cohesive team.
Adaptability and Growth Mindset
Improv encourages participants to think on their feet and exercise mental flexibility in order to see problems and potential solutions in a new light. By tapping into creativity we can contribute to a greater sense of self-efficacy and confidence in the face of adversity. Learn how to embrace imperfection and turn mistakes into opportunities for growth and discovery.
Creativity and Ideation
Improvisors abide by one rule, Yes And: accept and build on each other’s ideas. By applying this concept in the workplace we can unlock creative potential, carve out space for divergent thought, harness growth mindset and drive innovation. This training will challenge participants to think on their feet, explore fresh perspectives, and access new corners of their creativity.
Adaptive Leadership
An improvisational ethos can help to unlock key elements of great leadership. By nourishing emotional intelligence, embracing transparency, welcoming change, and building a workplace predicated on inclusion and elevation of diverse voices, we can create a thriving organization with strategies to navigate the unknown.
Equity and Inclusion
Improv can be utilized as a means to analyze and disrupt traditional workplace hierarchy and introduce an environment predicated on safety and inclusion. Exercises that empower participants to take on different status roles, draw clear boundaries, and practice accountability, can illuminate aspects of behavior, interpersonal dynamics, and inspire a deeper conversation about what it means to be part of a thriving workplace community.
Mutually Assured Wellbeing: Improv for Mental Health
Collaborating with others in a safe and supportive environment can alleviate anxiety, improve our mood and provide a vital escape from reality. By stepping outside our comfort zone and tapping into creative expression, we can relieve tension and boost positive brain activity. Improv generates laughter, joy, a sense of belonging through the reciprocal act of employing Yes And.
Public Speaking
Authenticity, presence, and ability to connect with an audience are vital elements of public speaking. Learning how to project confidence and stay grounded, though active, fun, and experiential training can help reduce anxiety and help speakers stay in the moment.
Cultivating Joy
Inject your day with spontaneity, laughter, and collaborative play. Improv is a wonderful option for a building group camaraderie in the office or on a retreat. Workshops or performance events can be tailored to meet the scope of your organizational needs.
Executive Coaching
Work one-on-one to target areas of potential growth. Expand creativity, confidence, communication skills, and more. I can customize a program to help you reach your professional goals.
Of all the Applied Improv instructors I have worked with over the past 7 years, no one matches Elana’s leadership, professionalism, and creativity. All worries melt away when the workshop begins and you realize she is in complete control. This is one of the Masters.
— Dennis Zavolock (CEO and Co-Founder, Humans Being and Associate Director, New York Angels)
Improv has been such an incredible confidence booster and the benefits extended far beyond what I initially anticipated. Not only have I become such an adept and comfortable presenter, improv has made me a better manager and person. Elana has been instrumental in all of this. She’s taught me to be a better listener and experience the world with a more open mindset. Most importantly, she made the entire experience fun.
— Sarah Masel (Group Director of Strategy & Analytics, Big Spaceship)
Elana finds ways to make even a group of engineers light up and access their inner performer! Her exercises are delivered with joy and filled with humanity and warmth that show the importance of interpersonal connection at the workplace, all while developing skills like self-awareness, presentation skills and knowing your audience, listening and communication, and the freedom of stepping forward and being heard.
— Nitya Shekar (Learning and Development, AppNexus)
On behalf of my whole team I want to thank Elana for an exceptional session yesterday. It was a huge hit - everybody LOVED IT (authentically!). Elana was a great facilitator and made the session truly enjoyable. Importantly it really accomplished our goals - team building, taking risks, talking in draft form, failing fast, penchant to action, etc.
— Todd Fisher (Managing Director of Scalable Solutions, Year Up)