Molly Cox, who is the author of Improvise This! also performed at the Sales Shebang fundraising fiesta on Sunday night, brought everyone into her presentation on Monday.
Molly spoke about how when people are feeling a certain way, they bring that energy into the other parts of their lives. When someone is having a bad day, it’s obvious to those around them and other people act accordingly.
On the other hand, when it’s a good day, what people bring, their energy, will make the atmosphere either positive or negative for them. When someone is tired or in bad mood, and they make a sales call or go into a meeting, they bring all that garbage with them.
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible for people to completely control their environment. What is in someone’s control is how they react.
Molly talked about how improv is one way for someone to change their attitude. Improvisation is about taking whatever situation is given, and moving forward with it.
She demonstrated that on Sunday night when audience members would yell out random suggestions to the performers, who would then have to continue with the scene while incorporating whatever wild and crazy thing the audience had just told them what to do.
According to Molly, improvisation is an inherently positive activity. It’s about looking for opportunities and ways to move forward. And it brings energy to the room because each person continually builds on what the others have created.
Molly didn’t just talk about improv though, she made everyone do it. Attendees formed small groups and were told to make up nonsense words. Then, they were told the word was a product and they had to make a list of its attributes.
The catch: no one could reject any attribute that was said. Even if it was completely unrelated, the attribute had to be written down.
Of course, each group started out with descriptions that made sense. But, it didn’t take long for the crazy suggestions to come out. At the end, each product was more fantastic than the last.
This session wasn’t just fun and games though. Molly used the improve exercises to prove her point—that it’s possible to get energized (even early in the morning)—to the attendees.
By the end of her session, everyone had tons of energy—no matter how they had felt when they walked in the door. People were bubbling with ideas, and they were having a great time.
And their presentations of their imaginary products were hilarious!
Molly concluded her session by talking about how improv is good practice for life. Its quick, fast-moving pace and the necessity of having to adapt quickly help people learn how to think on their feet.
The better they are at that, the less likely they are to fall on their face.
For more information about Molly, visit her:
- Career Chik website which features sassy cards for women in business.
- Molly Speaks website to learn how to bring her into your organization as a speaker.
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