Yes, and...go!

Not long ago I discovered and joined the Applied Improvisation Network, a worldwide network of more than 1800 dedicated professionals using improvisation within their work. Their work is typically in the field of education, training, leadership, creativity, innovation and organisational development.

The basic rule for all improvisation work is: ‘yes, and…’

During our lives, be it at school, home or work, we’re being taught to be thoughtful and act carefully. And with great results! Ever since the philosophers of the ‘enlightment’ started advocating the use of our critical and rational minds our wealth and wellbeing has dramatically soared. We’ve have been taught to say ‘Yes, but…’ to every suggestion that we receive.

However, we’re now hitting a wall.

Improvisation for innovation and change

We can’t cope with the current speed of innovation. Nowadays there’s hardly any difference between the product-prototype and the new product. It looks just like theatre: the show starts with several try-outs to see how the audience (the target group) will react. We’re continuously on stage. And on this stage we need to fail and accept ideas that come from the audience, otherwise we will not know how the final product (will there ever be a final product?) should look like. We need to say ‘yes,and…’.

This does not only apply to product innovation. The concern that we need many breakthroughs for our earth to cope with 7 billion plus inhabitants is now well established. But realising those breakthroughs is a tough task. And we can only achieve this change by stepping out of our comfort zone of rationality and carefulness, of the control and command structure. Improvisation provides the mindset that enables us to see possibilities and try and fail and try, over and over again. It’s the ‘yes, and…’ mindset (that so beautifully leads to stories).

Try again. Fail again.

The great play writer Samuel Beckett said it as follows:

‘Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter.

Try again. Fail again. Fail better.’

That’s why the improvisational ‘yes,and…’ mindset will become increasingly important. It’s the start for deep transformational change and will in the end revolutionize our world.