March 3, 2015 at 12:57What do startups and stage improvisations have in common
- Transfer
Every year I have a new hobby. I am starting to do what I have never done before, about which I have no idea. In 2011, my choice fell on stage improvisation. In the first lesson, I talked with a stranger about hiking for 10 minutes, and other strangers sat and discussed my every gesture, manner of speaking, posture - in general, they criticized and expressed those unpleasant things that friends and friends usually do not say. I participated in improvisation shows for a year. Gradually, I came to the conclusion that stage improvisation for entrepreneurs could be something like training for athletes.
For example, after good training, a football player will show the best results on the field. In the same way, if a laconic and shy engineer, who spent his whole life at the computer, suddenly creates a startup, then training in stage improvisation will help him learn how to communicate with clients and investors.
In fact, the analogy between the development of a startup and improvisation on the stage is much deeper than it seems at first glance.
When you stand on stage and don’t know what you’ll say next, and 500 people are looking at you and waiting for something, it becomes scary. And no one can tell you what to say and do, because there is no director, no script - there is only the unknown.
And in the case of a startup, there are no clear instructions on what to do in a day, month, year, how to solve these or those problems. You just make a choice, make some kind of decision. If suddenly you make the wrong decision, you will not be able to make a choice again and there will be nobody to ask, except from yourself. Improvisation will allow you to learn how to stay calm in moments of painful choice, to overcome fear of the unknown.
When people criticize your behavior on stage, you try to immediately improve for the better, because you understand that you are performing for them, for spectators who are waiting for good performance and dedication from the actors. Therefore, you learn to constantly change something in yourself for the better, to listen to criticism and use it for self-improvement.
Often in companies, employees do not have the right or are afraid to criticize management, and they themselves do not perceive any criticism, even constructive. But, as practice shows, a team achieves significantly greater success if each participant, whether a boss or an ordinary employee, is open to criticism and knows how to give adequate feedback to others. This is especially true for startups that are constantly improving.
Unlike stand up, where they perform solo, stage improvisation involves interaction with partners in the scene. The purpose of this interaction is to create some kind of story together. Therefore, everyone is trying to act so as to help partners, the common cause.
And you can not stop here. The dialogue must be constantly continued in order to find the line of communication that will lead improvisation to success.
For business, this means that you cannot stop the discussion until an acceptable decision is made. None of the team should stop. Otherwise, it will be impossible to move on. Of course, each participant should be appreciated and trusted.
Improvisation makes a person an excellent listener. Because on the stage you need to be attentive at 100%.
How often do we encounter communication difficulties between the developer and the client? After all, the ability to write cool code is not enough in this case. To solve exactly the problem that the client is talking about, you need to listen well and understand it.
Therefore, after the developers take the improvisation course, the need for a large number of support specialists will simply disappear.
The story of a startup unfolds in time and includes the beginning, development, characters, plot - just like in a play. But the realities of the modern world are so variable and diverse that the main direction of development is barely visible behind the intricacies of storylines. Improvisation helps to see the whole picture and not get stuck on some particulars and unexpected turns.
Improvisation is a conscious exit from the comfort zone. When we learn to take it calmly, when we learn to think in difficult situations not only about ourselves, but also about partners, we simply develop certain skills that are applicable not only on stage, but also in other areas of life.
For example, after good training, a football player will show the best results on the field. In the same way, if a laconic and shy engineer, who spent his whole life at the computer, suddenly creates a startup, then training in stage improvisation will help him learn how to communicate with clients and investors.
In fact, the analogy between the development of a startup and improvisation on the stage is much deeper than it seems at first glance.
Creating a startup is a jump into the unknown
When you stand on stage and don’t know what you’ll say next, and 500 people are looking at you and waiting for something, it becomes scary. And no one can tell you what to say and do, because there is no director, no script - there is only the unknown.
And in the case of a startup, there are no clear instructions on what to do in a day, month, year, how to solve these or those problems. You just make a choice, make some kind of decision. If suddenly you make the wrong decision, you will not be able to make a choice again and there will be nobody to ask, except from yourself. Improvisation will allow you to learn how to stay calm in moments of painful choice, to overcome fear of the unknown.
Existence in a startup requires introspection and sensitivity to criticism
When people criticize your behavior on stage, you try to immediately improve for the better, because you understand that you are performing for them, for spectators who are waiting for good performance and dedication from the actors. Therefore, you learn to constantly change something in yourself for the better, to listen to criticism and use it for self-improvement.
Often in companies, employees do not have the right or are afraid to criticize management, and they themselves do not perceive any criticism, even constructive. But, as practice shows, a team achieves significantly greater success if each participant, whether a boss or an ordinary employee, is open to criticism and knows how to give adequate feedback to others. This is especially true for startups that are constantly improving.
All run in the same harness
Unlike stand up, where they perform solo, stage improvisation involves interaction with partners in the scene. The purpose of this interaction is to create some kind of story together. Therefore, everyone is trying to act so as to help partners, the common cause.
And you can not stop here. The dialogue must be constantly continued in order to find the line of communication that will lead improvisation to success.
For business, this means that you cannot stop the discussion until an acceptable decision is made. None of the team should stop. Otherwise, it will be impossible to move on. Of course, each participant should be appreciated and trusted.
In startups, listening is just as important as creating
Improvisation makes a person an excellent listener. Because on the stage you need to be attentive at 100%.
How often do we encounter communication difficulties between the developer and the client? After all, the ability to write cool code is not enough in this case. To solve exactly the problem that the client is talking about, you need to listen well and understand it.
Therefore, after the developers take the improvisation course, the need for a large number of support specialists will simply disappear.
A startup can have a main focus, but there are many development options
The story of a startup unfolds in time and includes the beginning, development, characters, plot - just like in a play. But the realities of the modern world are so variable and diverse that the main direction of development is barely visible behind the intricacies of storylines. Improvisation helps to see the whole picture and not get stuck on some particulars and unexpected turns.
Improvisation is a conscious exit from the comfort zone. When we learn to take it calmly, when we learn to think in difficult situations not only about ourselves, but also about partners, we simply develop certain skills that are applicable not only on stage, but also in other areas of life.