The document discusses how improvisation techniques can improve innovation and leadership. It advocates adopting a "Yes, And" approach to turn individual ideas into shared ideas that everyone contributes to. This helps build engagement, psychological safety and shared ownership that drives more creative outcomes. The document provides exercises for groups to practice improvisation and building on each other's ideas. It argues that "Yes, And" can benefit various functions from marketing to conflict resolution and cultivate an innovative culture where all people and ideas are valued.

1. Connect.Innovate.Lead.
Unscripted:
Improving Innovation &
Leadership with
Improvisation
Consultant, Improvision
Senior Director of Content,
Great Place to Work
Ed Frauenheim
Jay Rhoderick
C R E A T E M A G I C
T O G E T H E R

2. Thumb War Contest!

3. Connect.Innovate.Lead.
+ Wheel Spinning & Disagreement
+ Disengagement & Self Doubt
+ Siloed Thinking
+ Power Struggles
+ Faster, Richer Ideas with Shared
Ownership
+ Engagement in Innovation Process
Driven by a Sense of Belonging &
Possibility
Your Idea v. My Idea OUR Idea
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

4. Jay and Ed

5. Connect.Innovate.Lead.
Why is Innovation
important to YOU?
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

6. Connect.Innovate.Lead.
Efficiency works
for predictable
times. But radical
uncertainty
requires
innovation.
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

7. Creativity jumped from
#10 to #3 in the list of
necessary skills
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

8. U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M
Innovation By All
Everybody Creates
Everybody is Connected
Everybody Contributes

9. Innovation by All (2018), A Great Place to Work For
All, Michael C Bush and the Great Place to Work for
All Research Team
“Innovation by All”
Companies enjoy 5x
the revenue growth
of their competitors.
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

10. It Starts with All Leaders
The way our
leaders listen,
communicate, and
model co-creation
INSPIRES or
STIFLES a culture
of innovation.
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

11. It Starts with All Leaders
How do we help turn
MY/YOUR IDEAS into
OUR IDEAS?
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

12. It Starts with All Leaders
How do we equip our
leaders with the
mindsets and skills to
co-create?
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

13. Connect.Innovate.Lead.
Great Party Last Night Exercise
+ In groups, co-tell a shared story about the GREAT party that you all attended last night.
+ Start with “Great party last night!” and end with “And that’s when the cops showed up.”
+ You have 3 minutes!
+ After each person completes their idea, the next person to speak starts with “Yes! And…”
+ You were all there, so no questions, and no denials (i.e., avoid “Yes, but,” “No,” and “Or”).
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

14. Connect.Innovate.Lead.
+ Saying “yes, but,” “or,” and “sure” creates more work, conflict, and burn out
+ “Yes, And” replaces resistance, preserves buy-in, and drives momentum in difficult conversations,
networking, brainstorms, new adventures, unthinkable last-minute surprises
SAY YES, AND! INTEAD OF YES, BUT! TO TURN
MY/YOUR IDEAS INTO OUR IDEAS
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

15. Internalized Beliefs
+ Risk Aversion: The safest way is the proven way
+ Perfectionism: My ideas aren’t good enough
+ Expert Syndrome: I can’t be wrong
+ Pride of Ownership: My ideas are best
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M
Where “Yes, But” Comes From

16. Organizational Practices:
+ Hierarchy: Ideas come from the top
+ Unhealthy Competition: Forced ranking
creates tennis players, not basketball players
+ Diversity, Not Inclusion: “Stay in your lane”
+ Command and Control Leadership:
Prioritizing control over enablement
sabotages the most creative of teams
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M
Where “Yes, But” Comes From

17. Marketing
Game
Instructions:
+ Stand in circles of 8-10
+ Prep Marketing Plan
+ Commercial: “Scripted” Beginning, middle, end
+ Jingle or tagline
+ Optional extras: celebrity spokesperson, song, visuals
+ Build on each other’s ideas using “Yes, And” language
+ You have 3 minutes to plan and prepare it together
+ Your product: “Dog Headphones” OR “Cat Jacuzzi”
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

18. Yes, And…All Over The Place
Coaching Presentations Conflict Resolution

19. Time
Traveler
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

20. Yes, And…For All

21. Our mission is to build a better world
by helping organizations become
great places to work FOR ALL.

22. Connect.Innovate.Lead.
WE ARE JUST
SKIMMING
THE SURFACE
Sustainable innovation
requires a shift in
mindset and behaviors
Text YESAND to 66866 to sign up for
our ~monthly newsletter AND a free
exercise to kick off your next creative
meeting!
shannan@improvisionconsulting.com
U N L O C K I N G I N N O V AT I O N W I T H I M P R O V I S AT I O N W W W . I M P R O V I S I O N C O N S U L T I N G . C O M

23. Tweetable Takeaways @GPTW_US
“The best idea wins” can
pit your idea v. my idea,
which can stifle co-
creation, psychological
safety, shared ownership,
and an “innovation by all”
culture.
#culture
#innovation
#GPTW4ALL
We can help our leaders
and teams co-create
more powerfully by
equipping them with the
skills and mindset of “Yes,
And.”
#leadership
#co-creation
#GPTW4ALL
A “Yes, And” mindset
enriches all aspects of
leadership and cultivates
an innovative, inclusive,
For All culture—where
everyone’s ideas count.
#inclusion
#innovation
#GPTW4ALL