A form of theatre where the audience give suggestions and the actors create scenes and stories there and then.
So much is applicable, so many skills transferable for successful leaders and organisations - listening, co-creation, adaptability, thriving in uncertainty, delighting customers. Having fun.
Everyday improvising is making it up as you go along. Muddling through, lacking intention. Improv is a discipline, learned and practised over years - but open to anyone. It has protocols and structures bringing laser-focused creative collaboration. An attitude of confident curiosity. The improv mindset says things are evolving but we can do more than navigate the unexpected. We can spot and harness the opportunities that are thrown up. If we listen with intent. You won’t learn this at business school - well actually, you can, but only at the best business schools.
Yes. When you need to prepare, plan and structure. A pitch, a presentation, your story, your strategy, your values. We can help determine what you need and how to enact it.
In business there is often no map, no GPS. All you have is each other. You may have no script, but you have a team. They don't know if they're going to be playing the lead character. They don't know what the next scene is going to be. Org charts are one thing but the reality of ‘structure’ is dynamic. It’s based on the relations and conversations we have with each other with our suppliers and our customers. Let us bring you these hugely relevant skills forged in the fire of stage performance and road-tested across the world. They will help your teams be more nimble, collaborative and productive. We can do this through keynote speeches, group workshops, individual coaching or big kick-off events.
Neil Mullarkey is a unique communication expert. You may recognise him from his performances in 'Whose Line Is it Anyway' and two 'Austin Powers' movies. He still performs most Sundays with the Comedy Store Players, Europe's top improv troupe, which he co-founded with Mike Myers. But he now travels the world bringing the skills of theatre and especially improv, focusing on creativity, collaboration and leadership to clients including EY, Deloitte, Vodafone, Accenture and Unilever. His new book, *In The Moment* was shortlisted for the 2024 Business Book Awards. Matt Brittin (President of Google, Europe, Middle East, Africa) says, ‘Neil’s model and how he applies it in different ways is really simple yet powerful. In a world that's more volatile and uncertain than ever, businesses need leaders who can be agile, adaptive, innovative. Neil's always promoted this brilliantly, but without the business jargon. ’ Visit neilmullarkey.com (And, yes, Mullarkey is his real name)
(With recent examples in brackets)
Workshops - a team of twelve for a day, on their feet. (e.g. Two organisations have come together. The new leadership team needs to create trust. And have some fun and enhance their communication skills along the way.)
Coaching Individuals - a personalised programme for a senior leader. (e.g. A director at a Big Four firm needs preparation for the partner process. Or a manager is heading for the C-Suite. But they need to know how to get their voice heard at the top table.)
Keynote speeches - ninety unforgettable minutes in a big auditorium. (e.g. Business partners of a global soft drinks firm from over thirty countries gather to cement confidence and collaborative creativity as a technology transformation begins to unfold over the next five years.)
Events - bespoke, large scale, impactful. (e.g. A challenger tech firm. A football stadium. Hundreds of leaders, engaging with the Yes And mindset. Or a hospitality firm. A day’s workshop at the Comedy Store for the senior leadership team. They put on an improv show for the regional managers. Next day those regional managers create vignettes to exemplify the behaviours that lead to continuing success.)
Private sector - consulting, law, media, tech, finance, advertising, recruitment, life sciences, property, hospitality, publishing, fast-moving consumer goods.
Public sector - health, social care, education, local and central government.
“It was a total pleasure working with Neil and the team. They took our telecoms client’s brief and created an on-message session, for hundreds of people. It was on-point, engaging and entertaining. We couldn’t have asked for more. BRAVO!”
Linda Nevins, Event Producer
“I chose Neil because of his superb reputation within PA Consulting at the time. I wanted my client’s leadership team to gel, go beyond rigidity and biased thinking to collaborate better. Neil was the catalyst to achieving this.”
David Vaury Director, Sustainable People & Organisation transformation Advisory at PwC, Switzerland
“Coming into a new role and inheriting global teams can be a tricky endeavour. In my two latest experiences of this I have looked to Neil’s improv approach. His well thought through exercises break down walls and rebuild a new dynamic within the team, all in the space of a day. Apart from offering needed comic relief from the mundanity of life in the city, Neil is a font of knowledge and an excellent coach.”
Candice Arnold, Chief Marketing Officer, IFS assyst
“Having seen Neil raise the engagement and energy levels in a dreaded post-lunch conference slot I thought he would be perfect for a conference I was arranging. The communication themes that Neil addresses in such a fun way are universal and applicable to any situation where one human is interacting with others. We wanted to give people the tools they need to engage others in customer experience and drive change as a result. Neil's session went much further, helping attendees think widely about and take practical steps. It got great ratings in the feedback. Neil shared tips and tricks from the world of improv that are highly applicable in everyday life. The session was fun, participative, and memorable.”
Sue Hedaux Co-Founder ReThink Productivity
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