While members of the audience believe that improv troupes must rely on countless tricks and skills, improvisers apply concrete guidelines that allow them to create impressive, often unbelievable solutions to the unpredictable scenarios in which they find themselves onstage. By studying and implementing the same guidelines employed by improvisers, managers and employees can begin to establish a network of trust in their workplaces.
Yes! Space is an improvisational concept that refers to members of a troupe committing to a performance by first saying "yes." Yes! Space consists of three parts: say yes, put the critic on hold, and make it public.
1. Say yes. Saying the word "yes" is foundational in establishing a collaborative atmosphere and trusting space; additionally, it brings the speaker into a world of possibilities. Positivity feels unnatural to humans, who must exert a concerted effort to avoid reacting negatively to situations.
Several studies reaffirm how positive attitudes result in higher levels of trust and stronger relationships, which in the workplace end in higher productivity and sales. Hough references appreciative inquiry, the notion that by focusing on what they are doing right, companies can grow their strongest business practices.
Saying "yes" means the speaker is open to exploring a possibility, which results in employees understanding that all of their ideas are valued and will be considered. An important side effect of this is that it makes employees themselves feel valued.
Improvisers believe that it is critical to acknowledge ideas, fellow actors, and audience members with "yes;" rejecting ideas would result in a dead-end improvisation. Saying "yes" also necessitates that the troupe work as a team.
In trainings, hearing "yes" in response to ideas shows employees, especially those reluctant to participate, that they are valued and that they will not be ignored or judged. Creating a safe environment by responding with "yes" fosters participation, employee confidence, and idea-sharing, all of which contribute to a more collaborative, productive workplace.
2. Put the critic on hold. The second step in creating Yes! Space is encouraging people to silence the critic in their minds. Saying "no" is a natural defense mechanism that causes people to reject ideas that push their boundaries.
However, the habit of reacting with "no" stifles creativity, innovation, and productivity. Workplace training and academia teach the importance of critical thinking; unfortunately, the intense focus on identifying problems results in a propensity to reject ideas, often hampering participation and collaboration.
Instead of jumping to critical conclusions, good listeners acknowledge that it is more productive to fully listen and critique later, providing more time for reflection and fostering confidence and trust in the speaker. Readers should react differently next time they feel the instinct to respond with negative words like "no," "but," and "however" and negative contractions like "can't" or "won't."
Replacing these negative words with expressions such as "Help me understand" prove to be much more useful in encouraging collaboration and productivity. While it may sound simple, adjusting one's language can be quite difficult because it first requires adapting one's mindset.
3. Make it public. All people are capable of creating Yes! Space within themselves by reaffirming ideas with positive thoughts, accepting surprises openly, and silencing internal critics. However, Yes! Space is a fundamentally collaborative experience and the positive exchanges translate to an open, accepting, productive organization.
Employees who work in organizations that value Yes! Space feel valued because they know their leaders and colleagues acknowledge and consider their ideas. Furthermore, the positive reinforcement they receive when they contribute encourages them to continue to contribute in the future.
Importantly, Yes! Space is contagious. The more participants demonstrate the powers of positivity, the more employees witness the benefits and demonstrate the concept's application to others.
Hough stresses the importance of leading by example when creating Yes! Space in the workplace and asks readers to consider their attitudes at work and to increase the frequency of rewarding ideas with praise. Managers can effect positive change—including better retention and higher revenue—simply by saying yes, putting the critic on hold, and making it public.
To apply Yes! Space behaviors at work, employees can:
- Practice positive reactions to ideas, for example, "Yes. Great idea. Please tell me more."
- Remain present in conversations and resist judging an idea while still listening to the speaker share it.
- Praise good work, share excellent work with colleagues, and share superior work with higher-ups.
This article was based on the book "The Improvisation Edge." The book summary is available online at Business Book Summaries.
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