Ice Breaking with Some Improv
Insights from a Corporate Workshop Instructor
In our “Using Humor for Professional Development” corporate training, improv instructors introduce teams to the fundamentals of improv comedy. We talked to Kaci Beeler, an experienced Improv instructor on Zoom and in-person for Laugh.Events. Kaci lauds improv as the perfect way to break the ice in a corporate setting and how "Improv is Magic". Kaci shares her thoughts on ice breaker games, the power of play, and more.
When leading an icebreaker activity, what’s a question you like to open with and why?
When I'm leading a group of people in an icebreaker activity, I'm interested in seeing them take low-pressure risks and experience the rewards of that risk. A question that I have in my mind with any group is,:
"What is holding you back right now?"
I think we go around in our daily lives with our guards up against an attack. We know the world is full of scammers and manipulators, we've experienced it and we don't want to be vulnerable to it. But over time, building these walls of defense around ourselves, we've lost a lot too. We stopped playing. We stopped meeting people on a deeper level. We stopped having fun.
The icebreakers I use get people reconnecting with the good and safe parts of vulnerability. And the main result is joy and laughter. A light sense of ease. A better understanding of the people around us, and ourselves.
You frequently work with teams that might be brand new to improv workshops. What do you enjoy most about introducing improv concepts to these groups specifically?
Improv is magic! And the principles of improv are just fantastic tools for life and communication.
Bringing these skills to people who are new to them is honestly like bringing someone joyful life hacks. We learn through play how to stop holding ourselves back when it does not serve us.
It's a muscle I love to help people flex because it so often is neglected.
Can you describe some of the transformations you’ve seen in workshop participants from beginning to end?
The rooms I walk into can often be very cold to begin with. People shuffling their feet, avoiding eye contact, sticking to the walls and corners of the room for perceived safety, and clutching a glass of alcohol like a lifeline.
It would be very intimidating if I didn't trust what I came into the room to bring - joy, connection, laughter, and comfort!
Once we start using the icebreaker games and tools to get people playing with each other - the atmosphere completely changes. People are laughing together, joking with each other, their postures open up, the room is lively, and this joy emanates from every person. Sharing becomes easy and everyone is relaxed.
It's a superpower for any gathering and I'm so honored to bring improv to people who have never experienced it.
Interested in learning more about Using Humor for Professional Development? We offer virtual sessions for remote team building activities and in-person corporate workshops. Reach out to our team here!