Episode 282: Why Leaders Are Obsessed with Improv for Team Growth
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A new hire joins the team, full of potential—but weeks in, they’re quiet in meetings, hesitant to share ideas. Not a lack of creativity, but a lack of psychological safety.
Now, picture a team where people feel safe to contribute, take risks, and build on ideas. That’s where real innovation happens. The secret? Improv.
On today’s episode of Workday Playdate, Erin shares why companies like LinkedIn and Amazon use improv to build high-performing teams. Traditional team development often falls short—only 32% of employees feel engaged, and teams with psychological safety are 76% more innovative. The missing link? A framework for real communication, adaptability, and trust.
Want to try it? Play "Last Word, First Word":
Partner up or form a circle.
One person starts with a sentence, like "Our next project will be a game-changer."
The next person starts their sentence with the last word of the previous one. Example: "Game-changer is exactly what we need."
Keep it going!
This forces deep listening, quick thinking, and real collaboration. Try it in your next meeting—then watch your team loosen up and level up.
If you’re interested in taking one small action right now, you can check out our newest freebie, The 5-Minute Team Commitment Reset here. Use this plug-and-play exercise at the start of any meeting to get your team mentally present, engaged, and committed.
No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
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