Always Be Improv-ing

Summary: Treat human interactions like Improv, co-creation, dancing.

Context: You talk too much

Forces

• You often have an idea in mind before a conversation
• Or you have an idea fast in response to a conversation
• You tend not to like/respect other people's ideas
• You want the best idea/plan
• You're defensive about your idea or self

Anti-Pattern, Wrong-Solution: Jump in too soon; talk more than anyone else

• Outcomes: you irritate most people: wife, boss, peers who aren't used to aggressive discussion

Solution

• Count to 5 before speaking, make space for others
• Have a goal/outcome in mind (often a meta-goal)
• Be patient/flexible in getting there
• Be curious (curiosity)
• Seek some form of value in others' statements, call it out as inspiration for next response
• Try Yes, And

Alternative names

• Collective Intelligence
• Dialogue, Converse, Conversation, Active Listening
• Collaborate, Collaboration
• Cooperative Game