Customer Reviews

Improvise This!: How to Think on Your Feet so You Don't Fall on Your Face

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In a world where the corporate climate is becoming more and more concerned about don'ts, than dos, more worried about what can't be said, than what can, this delightful book is the perfect reminder of the power of play. I love the messege. Let's get out of our heads and have some fun. Then let's see how that fun effects our work product.

The authors give us inspiring examples of humor in the workplace, and a series of excerises to loosen up even the most button downed office. They manage to give sound advice while keeping tongues firmly in cheek. I found it an easy read, perfect for the airplane.

This is a great beginner's book for Improv in the workplace. Now,I would love to see a more in-depth work from this joyful team. Improvise This! has whet my appetite.

As a public speaker and trainer, no matter how well prepared I am for an engagement, I encounter situations, audiences and questions that can catch me off guard. This book offers concrete tools, suggestions and examples of how to handle these types of situations using various improvisational techniques.

It is also a witty, fun and playful reminder to trust our instincts and tap into the natural creativity that we are born with. A definite must have on your book shelf!

I talk and act for a living (yep, I'm in a sort-of sales position), so I wasn't as excited about this book after reading it as I thought I'd be. Some good exercises that are included just didn't strike me as too much different that a day working with a people with varying knowledge, maturity, and educational levels.

Maybe I got [pulled] into the idea that (1) I like improv comedy, and (2) I'm always interested in some self-improvement. But I get to laugh and learn everyday just by showing up at the office at 8:00 a.m.

If you are in a serious, stuffy workplace that could use some fun and constructive play, this book might be more enjoyable than it was for me.

This book is unusual in that it takes something almost intangible and makes is accessible and realistic--and it's funny! The exercises are explicit, step-by-step guides for beginners and pros, which is something you don't find in other books of this genre. This is a great tool and an entertaining read.

Today's business works at a faster pace than ever--opportunities open and close quickly, and may be lost if one isn't prepared to react to them. In addition, today's workers expect a more collaborative workplace than ever. The techniques adapted from improv theatre are a great match for the intersection of these two phenomena, and many organizations are taking advantage of those techniques when offering their employees professional development opportunities.

Successful business people are adapt to the constant changes in their work environments, taking advantage of new opportunities and letting go of those that become stale. They enthusiastically engage the task of the moment, listen actively to others, trust both their own instincts and the sensibilities of their teammates, and build onto the ideas of others to create improved ideas...all elements required for successful improv theatre, as well. The authors are careful to detail ways in which these elements can be transferred to and applied in employee's work and personal lives.

Across eleven chapters, the authors provide detailed directions for 15 improv exercises adapted for business and life. Ten of those are designed for individuals (fairly rare in the training and development world). These include activities for breaking the inhibitions to risk-taking to innovative brainstorming approaches to having fun with telemarketers. (True, this last one seems to be unfair to the hapless telemarketer...but truly embodies spontaneity.) The group activities will develop skills in active listening, building on the ideas of teammates, and trusting your teammates. Other activities written into the narrative round out the ideas you can take, use, and adapt for yourself. In the four years I've owned this book, I have used or adapted 11 of these activities for training programs and found successes with each one.

This book provides some rich resource material for the reader to think about innovation, adaptability, risk-taking, and active listening. The activities are both enjoyable and thought-provoking, as are the interviews with six people who practice and apply the underlying principles.

I pull this book off the shelf so often that I'm thinking of naming it and teaching it to fetch. As an acting teacher, I not only find the games energizing and useful for my students, but I value the advice and suggestions. It really helps with the side-coaching, with reviving the essential spirit of the work that got all of us into this. As a mostly human being, I sometimes let this book jump up onto my lap simply for the giggles. These are people who not only know what they're talking about, but who write with great wit about wit. Hey . . . this book may be the solution to that pesky old form vs. function debate. This is a really, really good book that continually inspires.

I was hoping to find some activities in working with groups and with improvisation. I wanted to find some tools to improve my own skills in improv. For me this book offered neither of these. The writing was rather bland and I had trouble just getting through the book. If you really want it, I would look for used copies.

The authors have attempted to teach what most of us having reached adulthood and in the corporate world has forgotten - spontaneity, play and having fun. Some of the playshops would form a good basis for team building.

Forms an interesting read but did not break new ground. You might learn more from talking to playschool teachers who are in touch with the masters of spontaneity, play and having fun every day - young children!

Know your material and be yourself for god's sake. This is the best I've reviewed to date. Thanks Mark