Episode 159: The Missing Piece of Your Business Culture: Improv Comedy with Adi Clerman
When you tell your team they have a professional development day next Friday, what would come to their minds?
If it’s “sitting through another training,” you might want to reconsider your approach.
Think about it like this: Everyone you work with is smart. Everyone knows strategies to be more productive, to stay focused, and to do the things a hypothetical Employee of the Month would do.
As a result, your team doesn’t need to “sit through another training.” Your team needs something different. Something that’s a challenge, not a bore. Something that’ll make them laugh, allow them to be themselves, and not explicitly be about work.
Erin and Adi conclude their three-part series with a conversation about why Adi decided to make improv comedy workshops a focal point of the professional development calendar for 480 professionals she leads.
ICYMI – Your Post-Episode Homework: Think about your biggest failure moment or when one of your worst fears came true. Think about how you got through it, because you're still here listening to this show. Allow this to serve as a reminder to you to keep getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. Let it infiltrate into your culture. It will make a difference in how you show up, not only for the people around you, but more importantly for the most important person in your life – you.
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Connect with Erin Diehl:
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Email Erin: info@learntoimproveit.com
Erin Diehl is the founder and Chief “Yes, And” officer of improve it! and host of the improve it! Podcast. She’s a performer, facilitator and professional risk-taker who lives by the mantra, “get comfortable with the uncomfortable.” Through a series of unrelated dares, Erin has created improve it!, a unique professional development company that pushes others to laugh, learn and grow. Her work with clients such as United Airlines, PepsiCo, Groupon, Deloitte, Motorola, Walgreens, and The Obama Foundation earned her the 2014 Chicago RedEye Big Idea Award and has nominated her for the 2015-2019 Chicago Innovations Award.
This graduate from Clemson University is a former experiential marketing and recruiting professional as well as a veteran improviser from the top improvisational training programs in Chicago, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.
When she is not playing pretend or facilitating, she enjoys running and beach dates with her husband and son, and their eight-pound toy poodle, BIGG Diehl.
You can follow the failed it! podcast on Instagram @learntoimproveit and facebook, and you can follow Erin personally on Instagram @keepinitrealdiehl here. You can also check out improve it! and how we can help your organization at www.learntoimproveit.com. We can’t wait to connect with you online!
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Episode 159 Transcription
Erin (00:02):
No improvement. I am so excited to be back here again with Adi Clerman. If you missed episode 157 or 158 of this show, go back, check 'em out because we are talking with the Adi Clerman all about professional development for emerging leaders, why humor is key to success at work. And then today we're talking about the missing piece of your business culture. Spoiler. Okay, it's improv. It's improv comedy. So if you are somebody who has had trepidation about bringing improv into your workplace, listen to this. If you are someone who really wants to understand how it could help your program or your team and want a important first step in taking the leap, listen to this show. I am so thrilled to have my friend ad back here on the Improvement pod. Here we go. Let's get back to improving it with Adi Clerman.
Erin (00:59):
Hi new friend. I'm Erin Diehl, business improv edutainer, Failfluencer, and keynote speaker who is ready to help you improve your it, it being the thing that makes you, you. So think of me as your keeping it real. Professional development bestie who is here to help you develop yourself into the best version of you possible so you can develop your team and lead with intentionality, transparency, and authenticity. Oh, and did I mention we're improving your IT through play? That's right. I'm an improvisational comedy expert who uses experiential learning to help you have your aha haha moment. Those are the moments when the light bulb goes off and you're laughing at the same time. So grab your chicken hat, your notebook, and your inner child because I'm gonna take you on a journey that is both fun and transformative. Welcome to the Improve It podcast. Okay, well I wanna talk about this because you have witnessed your emerging leaders do improv you through our workshops. You've been a part of improvement workshops yourself. So let me ask you this. How have you seen improv just impact people's confidence at work?
Adi (02:30):
I would say it was really cool, like at our large conference this past summer to see all of our interns had to go through an improvement workshop. It was, they were like back to back to back to back. And they had this, you guys had this award called the Golden ch, the Super Golden Chicken. The Golden Chicken,
Erin (02:49):
The Chicken Champion. Chicken Champion. Chicken
Adi (02:51):
Champion. I'm sorry, I'm just, I think I live in Chinatown and there's actually like a restaurant across the street called the Golden Chicken. So like maybe that's why I'm thinking it. So sorry.
Erin (02:59):
But you know, the golden chicken is better actually. So I like where I like that name better. But keep going, keep going.
Adi (03:06):
Picking on all forms is delicious. But our team, all of our interns at the beginning, and you probably see this in a lot in all of your workshops, were like, everybody was like a little tentative at the beginning and then you gave them this like goal to work for that wasn't intimidating but a lot of fun. But they wanted like bragging rights for this goal and soon people like really, really got into it and a lot more quickly than we thought. And in terms of like seeing our emerging leaders go through that, everybody got out of their comfort zone. Most everybody got out of their comfort zone very, very quickly. And even though they were doing these, like from an outside perspective, seemingly silly things of like flapping their arms or like making these like weird, like cow noises or like figuring out X, Y, and Z, they were like working as a team.
Adi (04:01):
It was a no judgment zone and like it was also very memorable. We know who that chicken champion is and like you can bring that to your leader and it highlights, hey, you can get out of your comfort zone here in like the, pretty much like a, a way that you'll is scared to most people. You could probably translate that to our clients. You probably think outside the box a little bit more differently or even if you didn't win, you probably took a lot of things away from it that will help you continue to win in the future. So I think improv that was really exciting for me to see. And I mean Aaron, I think I told you this afterwards, but like, and just by the nature of our relationship and knowing you before this, it was, I was so proud of you to see how your vision had impacted 480 young people in a city you weren't even in at the time. Like say what? Like that's really, it's like the power of laughter and a testament to you. So it's pretty cool. Oh
Erin (05:01):
God. Okay. It's like we're meant to talk today. Thank you. I received that. I really do. And sometimes, like I told you this, sometimes you don't, you know, I'm sitting here complaining to you before the show started about this photo shoot I did today on a stage with no people. So just spoiler alert everyone, if you see marketing photos, there's no one in the audience. But I'm telling myself like, okay, Erin 10 years ago didn't have this gum. Like I wasn't a keynote speaker, I didn't have the ability to do what I'm doing now cause I didn't have a team to run this side of the business. And it's like that right there, just thank you. And also to your point about improv, like it is all about getting outside of your comfort zone. And I see that confidence instilled in the people that we work with, but improv is what gave me my confidence.
Erin (05:56):
And I will say I've had many fails throughout that journey, but it led me to this really awesome place and I, I saw it transform myself. And so I know that it can improve and impact people and can help them show up in a different way. And I wanna talk about one person in particular from Gallagher who was on this show, Cameron Rafi, who was on episode 1 26. He was something else. And I know that he was an intern and you know, he definitely, he, so is he an employee of Gallagher now? That is a question I have. I don't know if he, he's still in school.
Adi (06:41):
He's still in school, but I feel like, let's see where we're, I should have looked this up before our conversation. But I know that him winning had like a very positive impact on all the people that heard about it for sure. So I will get back to
Erin (06:58):
You. Okay. But no, that's okay. But the, the point is he really leaned into this concept of the chicken dance and he wrote a blog about it on LinkedIn, which you tagged me in which I was freaking out because it was so cool. It was the power of this idea. Literally the chicken dance started on my kitchen table while building and prove it. And then this person who totally got outside of his comfort zone and created a name for himself because like I say, Cameron and you know who Cameron is because he danced his heart out, right?
Adi (07:36):
He was like squawking around having a great time. Like it was great. I mean, he was the winner for a reason, you know what I mean? So, yeah.
Erin (07:46):
So if an improvement paper, a listener out there is tuning in today and they are thinking about incorporating any improv based training and to their emerging leader program, what would you say would be an important first
Adi (08:03):
Step for how to incorporate improv as like a training tool? Is that what you mean?
Erin (08:09):
Yeah, if they're thinking about like, okay, I want something outside of the box, I, maybe it's improv, maybe it's a different type of team building activity, but it's definitely not the day-to-day. What would you say would be a first step for them to do before engaging anyone? Like improve it or engaging anybody else who may do something outside of the box?
Adi (08:32):
I would think like, what's the goal, right? I think that's the first step is what's the goal of this? Because having fun and laughter is great, but if it's just doing it for the sake of doing it in a professional setting, that's like a waste of your time. Unless your goal is to just bring levity and have fun, which is a wonderful goal in itself. But I think like, what's your goal? Like, hey, you know what, what maybe our team has been really down and we've been through like a big slump and now we're emerging from it. We need something like fun or hey, you know what, like we wanna do a communications workshop because we feel like our, it would be helpful for our clients, but we just don't wanna just sit in a training. I, but I would think like, figure out your goal, but I think an improv workshop can meet a lot of different goals.
Adi (09:21):
So after step one, I think step two is don't overthink it much like improv. Just like, figure out your budget, figure out what you can do and then book it. People will come around, they may, everybody has resistance to things, but they'll come around for sure. Something that I also liked is that you and also all your team members mentioned, like this workshop is for everybody, introverts, extroverts. If you're not feeling comfortable, we can make accommodations for you. So like a lot of, if you're, you know, trying to have a communications training for a hundred accountants, which I'm sure they're all crazy, but crazy and fun, but maybe a couple of them that's not their cup of tea, but there's a way to adjust and bring this to, to their level as well. So it's, it's not just for, for wild and crazy extroverts, you know?
Erin (10:11):
Oh my God, that's right. And I wanna, that's a great point because I wanna touch on that too. I think some people hear the word improv, they have a lot of trepidation. Their nerves automatically go into like hyper alert. Their nervous system is shook. What would you say <laugh> to someone listening who is automatically going to that place of trepidation when it comes to something like improv? What would you tell them?
Adi (10:36):
I think all my worst fears about improv came true at your workshop. <Laugh>, I got stuck. I got stuck and felt dumb in front of a group of like 50, 40 people. And like, it was fine because everybody got real supportive very quickly. And not only was it, it felt so gratifying to have like people on my side, it was also like a good lesson that people don't want you to fail. Like pe you may think that people want you to fail, but they don't because one, if people are failing that, that's no fun to see. And two, it's just like more fun to be around. It's, it's, it's, it's easier and more fun to be supportive and we're lazy. Like humans are lazy. So if it's easier to have fun and be supportive, we're probably gonna do it. You know what I mean? So I don't know if that answered your question, but I think like, just know that it's a very supportive environment. It can be tailored and adjusted to all types of personalities. And if something makes you super uncomfortable, you know, and then maybe you sit out and you take a walk and you sit out and you observe and take notes on it and you still get a takeaway, that's
Erin (11:49):
Fine. Yes. Yes. And that's the thing too. I really like that you said that because you, there's activities where you are involved, everyone's involved, and then there's activities where you can sit back and watch. And sometimes those moments are the most aha filled moments. I call 'em the aha haha moments. Okay, she's going back to the cheese board, she's back to the cheese. But they really do happen. And you can sit back and witness someone transforming in that moment. I actually remember when you brought that up, your story, and you've told me this before, but I can remember you struggling, but to me that story doesn't stick out in my mind ever because obviously it was happening to you, not to me, because I knew everyone in that room would have your back. Yeah. Like I just knew I wasn't worried for you, I was gonna have your back and then everybody else did. Right? And so that's the mentality going into something like improv. It's definitely some, it is a teaching tool that allows you to let go, allows your team to let go and just be right and just play. And like you said, we're lazy. We would rather support each other. And that's the beautiful, that is the reason the art form exists. It cannot exist if you don't support the people around you.
Adi (13:08):
A hundred percent. But yeah, I'm thanks for, I'm glad that it, my failure does not resonate in your mind at your workshop. But if anything, I had a positive takeaway of like, oh, hey, all of my worst public speaking fears a hundred percent came true and I'm fine and
Erin (13:25):
You're
Adi (13:25):
Fine. And I'm still talking about it. So it's totally fine.
Erin (13:29):
Totally. And that to me too is a testament of like today I saw the things happening in my day as super failures, right? And to somebody else, it could have been a, a, a glitch in their day and they would've been like, that's a hiccup, right? For you struggling in that moment. You, a lot of people, I'm just speaking specifically to you, but when people are failing publicly on stage, wherever it may be in comedy or in a presentation at work, you feel like everybody's looking at you, you feel naked, you feel like all eyes are on you. And the truth is is for that second, people might be hoping that you can come back, right? Like you're exactly right. People don't wanna see you fail. But people are so consumed in their own brains that it's never as bad as we thought it was. Right. And I think that's also a testament to you saying, okay, I had my worst fear come true. I did it. I'm still here. And then guess what? I decided to go do something even scarier, stand on stage by myself with a microphone week after week. You know, you know
Adi (14:35):
It, it happened at not this past show, but the one before it, I straight up forgot a whole chunk of my set and I had like a little no card with all like little triggers or keywords and I had to, it happened again, you know? And essentially like my fear that happened in your class happened again on a very different stage. And you know what, all I said was like, oh audience, hold on, I forgot my set. I'm gonna look at my note card. I'm a left hand, please hold. And then they laughed at that. I got my bearings and I said, okay, we're back in action. And then went back on. Not a problem. And you know what I, from that set, I got invited back to do another one that had nothing to do with like a graduation show, which was really nice.
Erin (15:22):
That is awesome. And I'm proud of you. You should be proud of yourself.
Adi (15:26):
Thanks.
Erin (15:26):
That is huge. That's huge. And like you said, people don't wanna see you fail. So the moment that you even made a joke about like, I gotta look at my card, people are rooting for you in that moment. They want you to succeed. And that's people. And I always think that too. Like, I always try to tell myself when I'm so nervous, whether it's at work, it's on, it's on stage, it's people want you to succeed. They don't want you to fail. They've taken time to sit in your presentation or sit at your show and they wanna see you crush. They don't wanna witness the train wreck, they wanna see you fly.
Adi (16:03):
Yeah. And then I can also go back to people inherently being like selfish and lazy because if you fail or like they don't wanna see you bomb, because then it's just gonna make them like, not like they wanna see good stuff and they're gonna root for people to like do as much good as many good things as they can. So at the end of the day, everybody's a narciss assistant wrapped up and themselves and they're too busy worry about themselves to think about you. However, because of that, we all want the best for each other. Yeah. Which is kinda beautiful, kinda warped, but that's people and that's fine. And that's, it's also kind of funny. So there's that.
Erin (16:42):
Yes, yes. Okay. Well I gotta tell you, I've, I know the improvement peeps have loved hearing all about, not only what the work you're doing with Gallagher, your comedy career, how that can trickle into the workplace, how it can infiltrate your culture. But I have one last question for you.
Adi (17:04):
Yes ma'am.
Erin (17:05):
What is your, it we say on the Improve It podcast, your, it is that thing that you bring to the world. What is the D's it?
Adi (17:15):
Ooh. Ooh. If this were my dating profile, no <laugh>, what what is my it that might be something that I would ask you. Like what do you think? My, it is from my own introspection. I think my, it is like, I think I bring I think I'm very authentic and when people meet me, I have been told this. And you know, when somebody tells you something six times, you should believe them.
Erin (17:47):
You should believe it says a lot of people including a therapist. We gotta keep that. Yes, there
Adi (17:52):
You go. Yeah, you gotta do that. But I think I'm very authentic and I, I genuinely look for the good and the best in people. And I think that translates very clearly. So I how that, that it is, I think I make people to the best of my ability very comfortable, very quickly. And that's nice because like nobody likes to feel uncomfortable. Everybody wants to feel welcome. And I think perhaps that's my it maybe that coupled with like a nice sense of humor and a cold reasoning, maybe that's my it. Who knows.
Erin (18:25):
That's your it. And I love, I love it. And I also think you should just also, I mean, the sense of humor is definitely there. The nice cup of Riesling. Yes. I think you should also really recognize the light that you bring to the world. I think that that is something that I, I think you need to just hone in on. You have a great, like you said, that authenticity, but it really does, shed light in a lot of spaces that need more of it. So I would add that in there.
Adi (18:55):
Yeah. But please continue.
Erin (18:57):
I'll go. I'll go. Okay.
Adi (18:59):
Well I'm blushing here guys. I'm, I have, you know, I have slightly lovely darker tone skin, so if I could blush I would, but I just know that I'm feeling it right now. She's
Erin (19:11):
Thanks. Feeling it. Okay. Well if people are feeling a date and they wanna connect with you, how can they do that?
Adi (19:18):
Sure. connect with me on LinkedIn. I think Erin can like, share that link. Haven't started putting comedy up publicly. So when I do, if you don't mind, I'll come back and share like my Instagram handle. And let me tell you why, which cuz I think it's kind of funny too. Cause in a lot of my sets I make fun of my mom a ton in a very loving way. And so I haven't told her yet. So I don't like, I haven't told her that she's in like, all these sets because I think she'll be like fu like faux offended. So I'm just like waiting a few more sets before I tell her that I've been doing this. Not making fun of her, but doing comedy in general because like knowing her, she's just gonna ask me like, oh really? And then like, how do you find a gig and do you, let me tell you a joke and I just wanna be like well just wait until I'm pretty good mom, and then I'll, I'll let you join in. So anyway, long story short, LinkedIn for now and perhaps in the future on the Insta. But LinkedIn is great and if you message me, I'll get right back to
Erin (20:18):
You. I love it. All right, we'll put it all in the show notes. And my friend, I'm so happy that you are here today. I hope your mom doesn't listen to the show. What do you think? This gonna spoil it? Maybe this is like how you share with her. So what's her name?
Adi (20:33):
Her name is Miriam. Her, my mom's name is Miriam. So shout out to Miriam, you know, I could share with her thi I know this podcast has worldwide reach, but I don't think it has made it to like a small delicious smelling kitchen in Chicago quite
Erin (20:48):
Yet. Okay. Not yet. All right. All right. Well Miriam, if you are listening, we love you. And your daughter is becoming famous. She's gonna be in the Comedy Cellar in five years, four years. Four years
Adi (20:59):
In four minus four years, two months.
Erin (21:03):
Thanks Fred.
Adi (21:05):
Thanks for having me. This is such a pleasure, honor, delight, and kudos to you. Erin. This is big stuff.
Erin (21:12):
Thank you.
Adi (21:13):
Yeah, thanks for having me
Erin (21:25):
Improve it peeps. I could talk to a D for forever and just know we've had many chats over our old lady lunches over the years. Feels like talking to a friend at lunch, just sitting here in my little podcast closet, podcasting with her. So I hope you enjoyed this series with a d. If you did not, go back and listen to episodes 1 57 and 1 58 of this show so you can hear the full conversation. And you know, I always like to leave you with a tangible, so here is your tangible for today. I want you to think of, we heard a talk about in this show about her worst fear came true and our improv session. She forgot what she was gonna say, but how we knew we would support her, how she found that support and how that is translated in different areas of her life at work, on stage now in her career as a standup comedian.
Erin (22:20):
And I want you to think about your biggest failure moment or when one of your worst fears came true and how you got through it. Cuz you're still here, you're still here, and you're listening to this show. And I want that to serve as a reminder to you to keep getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, to bring improv or laughter or levity or humor and positivity into your day-to-day, to your job, to your team. And let it infiltrate your culture. It will make a difference in how you show up, not only for the people around you, but more importantly for the most important person in your life. You, my friends, it has been an honor to have a d on this show. If these episodes moved you, I'm going to ask you a huge favor. Please leave us a review on iTunes. It really means so much.
Erin (23:21):
It helps us bring amazing guests. Like a D to the show, helps people find us and helps us shed this message of laughter, levity, and positivity with the world. You know what I'm gonna say? I want you to keep failing, keep improving because this world needs that very special it that only you can bring. I will see you soon. Hey friend, did you enjoy today's show? If so, head on over to iTunes to rate and subscribe. So you never miss an episode. Now, did I mention that when you leave a five star review of the Improve It podcast, an actual team of humans does a happy dance? Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. That's right. So leave a review for us on iTunes, screenshot it, and send me an email at info learn to improve it.com. I'll send you a personalized video back as a thank you. Thanks so much for listening. Improve It Peeps. I'll see you next Wednesday.