There have been many discussion about returning to the office for work but what about play?
Many of us have been eager to get back to our favourite pastimes with friends and family and work colleagues too. I've even performed a number of live improv comedy shows! So what about improv workshops?
When I started Improv for Business UK, workshop were always in person. Usually the workshops were with bigger groups and much longer than what I offer online. Personally, I am very excited to get back to these (once I'm fully vaccinated).
I'm therefore opening bookings for October IRL workshops! There will be some stipulations though to keep you feeling covid-safe:
Workshops will be a minimum of 1 hour for up to 10 people
For workshops that are 2-3 hours (with a break) I will accommodate up to 20 people depending on space
In the past I have done outdoor events and groups of 50 but for now I will keeping numbers small. (We probably don't want to play outdoors in October/November anyway!)
As many of you are aware from my previous blogs, improv is a great way to connect and have fun with your team but it seems even more useful for what we're going through right now.
Returning to the office after over a year of working remotely is bound to throw up a number of issues. Here are some concerns for which I think practicing improv may have the solution:
1. Social cues
Did anyone else find seeing people face-to-face again a wee bit jarring? After months of hiding behind our screens and mute buttons, having to socialise in person felt quite draining. This is especially true for many people who already struggle with social cues and interacting with colleagues.
Luckily, so many exercises in improv focus on eye contact and communication. If members of your team are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of socialising, a gently guided improv workshop might be the best way to ease them back in.
2. Welcome new team members
One of the main reason a number of clients have come to me during lockdown is because they were concerned about new team members joining who hadn't had the chance to have a proper welcome.
An improv workshop is a great to introduce team members to each other. The group is often split up into smaller teams that are then mixed up giving everyone the chance to work together at some point and get to know each other. It's also a great ice-breaker!
3. Getting back on the same page
For some returning isn't just about getting back into the office, it's getting back to work in general. There may even be some tension between those who have been furloughed and those who feel like they've never stopped.
Coming together to play and work together in a different environment will help everyone integrate once more.
These are just three reasons I believe "IRL Improv" could beneficial to you and your team in these coming months. I will however continue to offer online workshops and they still have their place outside of lockdown.
Not sure what's best for you? Find out more about the differences between my online and IRL workshops here.
Hope to play with you soon! Please get in touch at charlievmartin@gmail.com if you'd like to discuss booking a workshop.
