If you work in the event world you know about the behind-the-scenes stress involved with making a major event look “effortless”. If you manage projects you know that big projects involve issues behind the scenes that the public doesn’t see. In both cases there’s a high potential for stress and a high potential for success – which one you experience depends upon who you collaborate with.
I recently experienced collaboration in both those worlds at once. This month was the 19th year for the Chicago Improv Festival (CIF). It marked my first year as Board President and a higher level of involvement and insight than my past volunteering experiences with CIF. This year CIF included 200 acts in 105 shows throughout 21 venues all in 7 days.
HAVING “FUN” IS ALL ABOUT HOW YOU FRAME THINGS
A project like that could have (some would say should have) been stressful – I mean pull your hair out and yell stressful. It wasn’t.
Instead of stress it was FUN. In the middle of everything happening at once it was FUN. When things came up, went wrong, went right and everything in between I experienced the business side of the “improv rules of life” in the middle of a big project. From the “YES, AND…” rule of contribution and collaboration to the “There are no mistakes” belief the entire team supported each other and even during the tired times and late nights we shared smiles.
Let me break that down for you and bridge the gap between being on the literal stage in the improv world and being on the figurative stage in life:
YES, AND…
On the improv stage “YES, AND…” from your scene partner means “YES, I heard you AND I’m going to build on what you just said”.
On the stage of life “YES, AND…” works on a few levels. For the good and bad situations: “Yes, that just happened AND here’s what I’m going to do to improve things and enjoy the ride”. For situations with people: “YES, I understand what you’re saying AND here’s how we can fix the problem together and/or celebrate the success together”. Which leads us to…
THERE ARE NO MISTAKES
When something unplanned happens on the improv stage the scene partners embrace it and immediately make it part of their story. That initial “mistake” can become the theme of the show.
When things go sideways in life a “mistake” is just a label you choose to give (or NOT to give) the situation. Yes, things happen and they aren’t always great. Whenever something no-so-great happens you can fight it, ignore it or embrace it and make it part of your story (once something happens in your life it’s part of your story anyways; you decide how to frame it).
Embracing a situation doesn’t mean you pretend it didn’t happen. Embracing a situation simply means you choose to move forward with what is in front of you and find a way to improve the situation and end the problem you’re facing one way or the other and then celebrate the outcome.
My biggest takeaway from the Chicago Improv Festival this exciting time around is that:
Improv IS life; it’s not about being funny all the time.
It’s about embracing what’s happening to you, collaborating with the people around you and being amazing because you help OTHER people look and feel amazing.
