Chimers Chime In: 5 Career skills I learned from improv

When JJ Vanichanon (she/her/hers) signed up for her first improv class, she felt nervous and scared. “I had just graduated from college and wanted to improve my communication skills, and had heard that improv could help,” she says. “I registered for a drop-in class, figuring that I just wouldn’t go back if I didn’t like it. I was afraid people wouldn’t want to be paired with me or that I’d be bad at it.”

The class involved stepping out of her comfort zone — JJ considers herself an introvert — but doing so felt good. She remembers feeling welcome, listened to, and supported by her class. “I registered for the 10-class package immediately after that drop-in,” she says.

JJ was born and raised in Thailand, where she spoke Thai until learning English at 10. “When I moved to the U.S., I had difficulty making conversation with strangers or participating in social situations,” she says. A friend suggested she try improv to improve her English skills. “In improv, you’re given a scenario to create a conversation or mini play within, so it helps with preparing for unexpected conversations and listening carefully to others.”

Since her first class, she’s learned a ton of lessons that have not only made her more comfortable in English but also improved her professional skills. And she’s built a small community amongst the folks from her improv class and now advocates for improv classes at work. Here’s a look at the career lessons JJ has taken away from improv classes — and why she thinks everyone should give it a try.

Lesson #1: Know your context and audience

Improv has helped JJ with her syntax and pronunciation in English, but one of her main takeaways has been to understand the context of a conversation and who your audience is. “In improv, you have to be in the moment and listen carefully to cues and what the other person says, and, before responding, you must understand the context of the scenario and who your target audience is,” she says. “This has helped me at work because I work with a very multi-functional team; knowing who my audience is and providing the necessary context has made conversations and working together much easier.”

In improv: You never know what the scenario will be or what your partner will say. Knowing who you’re talking to and the context of your scenario will help you follow cues and stay connected to your partner and the audience.

At work: Knowing who your audience is at work — a coworker, customer, manager, or board of directors — can help you tailor your message to best reach them. Providing important context, like historical data or performance metrics, can help you set the stage for whatever point you’re trying to get across.

Lesson #2: Always lead with “Yes, and”

One play in improv is the “Yes, and” play — one person states something, and the other has to say “Yes” and add something on. “Playing ‘Yes, and’ has helped me build empathy skills and be more collaborative and supportive,” JJ says. Especially when the pandemic set in and face-to-face interactions became limited, JJ used her “Yes, and” approach to communicating via Slack and email. “It helps me accept a message and add my thoughts; it’s about welcoming someone’s ideas first and then communicating what I have to say — instead of shutting something down, it’s taught me that there’s room for everyone’s contribution,” she adds.

In improv: Playing “Yes, and” is a fun way to see someone’s creativity shine and build on your partner’s ideas with your own.

At work: Facing situations and conversations with a “Yes, and” approach can help you be more collaborative and accepting, making you a better teammate and improving your creativity. It also creates a safe and inclusive environment for sharing ideas because every suggestion is welcome.

Lesson #3: Be present

“‘Be present’ is the number one piece of advice my improv instructor always gives us,” JJ explains. “We’re encouraged to be present to our role and the narrative we’re creating in each interaction.”

Staying present outside of improv has helped JJ navigate the ever-changing landscape of the world, especially when it comes to chaotic or violent events. While she’s working, she focuses on staying present in discussions and meetings: “It’s the best way to listen to others and work together,” she says. “It makes meetings and my days go by faster, too.”

In improv: Staying present is critical to creating an improv performance. After all, improv is all about the interaction between the participants — if someone isn’t paying attention to what’s being said, the whole thing can feel confusing (to everybody involved!).

At work: With curveballs coming at work and in the world at large, staying present can help everyone focus, connect with coworkers, and listen to each other.

Lesson #4: Praise goes a long way

“In improv, we always praise each other, clap after a play, and embrace everyone’s performances,” JJ says. “I love this aspect of improv because it’s not every day that you’re out of your comfort zone and you get praised. Receiving praise after trying something new or challenging gives me courage to be more creative, speak up more, and engage more with others.”

JJ carries her use of praise into the workplace, where she’s always tried to build strong culture of praising one another. “It creates a positive environment that encourages improvement,” she says. “I’ve always felt supported by my team at Chime to step out of my comfort zone and push myself, and I’m always ready to cheer others on to do the same — that’s thanks to our culture of praise.”

In improv: Improv creates a positive environment of praise and encouragement so that folks feel welcome to try out new ideas and supported as they step out of their comfort zones.

At work: Positive encouragement is important to creating an inclusive work environment where everyone feels supported in sharing their ideas and working to improve their skills.

Lesson #5: Remove your narrative and focus on the messages you’re receiving

Since moving to the U.S., JJ has learned a lot about tone in language. “For a long time, I’d question people’s tone — wondering if they were mad or aggressive — which led me to misinterpret what they were actually saying,” shey explains. “I realized that we all make assumptions about the tone of someone’s words, especially if they’re written.”

With much more communication at work happening over Slack and email since switching to hybrid work, JJ found herself questioning the tone of written messages more. But instead of focusing on tone (something nobody can be sure of through a written message), she now focuses simply on the content of a message, without bias. “I don’t try to put a voice over written messages anymore,” she says. “I take a deep breath, read the words, and remind myself that the writer means no harm. For example, if someone is giving me feedback on how to improve, I focus on the value of that feedback, not on spinning a narrative that the person sees me negatively in some way. It’s hugely helpful.”

In improv: Tone can say a lot in spoken language, but for the most part, people mean well — especially in improv.

At work: Taking messages, whether spoken or written, at face value, can help you focus on the message and what a person really means, instead of getting wrapped up in a narrative you might have. When in doubt about whether someone is angry or upset, it’s best to ask them.

Curious about improv? Try it!

JJ’s advice for those curious about improv is to try it. And if you’re unsure about signing up for a long course, most studios offer a drop in so you can get a feel for the class. You might learn something that could make you a better colleague or manager!