Use Improvisation to Expand Innovation and Creativity

Use Improvisation to Expand Innovation and Creativity

I recently met Kathy Klotz-Guest, author of Stop Boring Me! How to Create Kick-Ass Marketing Content, Products and Ideas Through the Power of Improv. Who would have thought we could take improv techniques and use them to improve our construction projects?

Hear me out…

The collective wisdom of a team is remarkable. In construction, we constantly resolve to keep projects moving or implement them more efficiently. For example, I know of several teams that figured out how to advance building interiors without windows or a roof to minimize the impacts on material or equipment delays. Imagine working on building finishes before a building is secure and watertight… And they said it couldn’t be done!

Stop Boring Me! includes detailed instructions for improv activities “to unleash your creative awesome.” While I have met a few engineers who don’t love role-plays in my time, learning how to more effectively tap into a team’s creativity will help everyone. And every construction superhero I have met is able to effectively brainstorm and innovate when the project required it.

Improv Ground Rules

Apply the improv ground rules to push your idea generation one step further:

• Keep going until you can’t go anymore. We often stop when we have a good idea. However, many times a better idea is just outside our grasp. Be curious! Invest a few more minutes to ask your team, “Is there anything else?” before you stop generating options. Push your thinking past the obvious solutions.
• Yes, and…! Skilled improv performers use “Yes, and …” instead of “Yes, but …” to support their team and maintain the flow of dialogue. This attitude benefits construction working sessions as well. The idea is to accept the concept stated by the previous speaker, then ADD to it, rather than rebutting it or explaining why it will not work. Once the brainstorming is complete, earmark time to evaluate options – objections during idea generation shut down participation and limit the pool of solutions.
• Have fun. We chose this crazy profession that dumps new problems into our laps every day. Embrace it and have fun leaping tall buildings with your partners. It is an awesome feeling when your team does the impossible.

Improv Exercises

Try improv techniques to push your team to develop innovations and smart solutions:

• Yes, and! Start with a statement. Each speaker says “Yes” and then adds something new. For example, “Our windows are delayed, and they are on the critical path.” “Yes, and the windows are needed to make the building secure and watertight.” “Yes, and, we could install a temporary barrier to protect work-in-place.” “Yes, and, we would need additional security, 24/7.” And so on …
• 50 Ideas in 5 Minutes. Judging ideas during brainstorming slows down the process and limits idea generation. Instead, push yourselves to list 50 ideas quickly, pushing past the obvious solutions for fresh, outside-the-box ideas.
• Stream of Consciousness. Frame your question and then generate ideas (alone or in a group) by writing or saying them quickly, without editing. Brainstorming works when one idea leads to another, and so on. Set a timer and keep going for 10 minutes to tap into your true creativity.

Develop a Plan

After idea generation, use your team and its diversity to evaluate the options and develop a solid path forward. These improv techniques will generate more ideas than other approaches. You’ll be discarding most of the ideas and keeping only the gems. The final solution will undoubtably be a variation or combination of concepts generated. Once developed, communicate the plan to your team to create alignment and full support.

Yes, and… celebrate your creativity and solutions with your team!

~ Cinda

Cinda Bond, MIPI, has been an OrgMetrics partnering facilitator for more than 10 years. She has facilitated more than 500 sessions for teams throughout the country. She also collaborates with engineering and construction teams to develop large documents containing hundreds of pages for construction contracts and proposals. For more information please contact Cinda Bond, CindaBond@Orgmet.com / (925)640-9007 (cell), or OrgMetrics RobReaugh@Orgmet.com / (925)449-8300