I was recently taken aback by one of my guest lecturers in business school, a VP at a large media company. As he gave us lessons for leadership that he had picked up over several decades on the job, he highlighted that from his perspective, the most important characteristic of a leader is creativity.
While I think many of us recognize that creativity is important for… well… creatives in entertainment or artistic spaces, I myself don’t find that I have an easily accessible picture in my head of managers in suits as the most creative people around. A few exceptions come to mind as names like Jobs and Disney flitter in my thoughts, but they are the exception, not the rule.
That said, I have long valued creativity and known its utility in business settings. Would you rather attend a workshop in a dark, colorless room, or one with music, interesting characters, and awesome graphics? Growing up with a music and theater background, I know my choice. And as I’ve sought out ways to express creativity, I’ve found that improv is one of the most universally enjoyable formats to flex that muscle, and perhaps more immediately applicable to everyday interactions than most other forms of creative expression.
The goal of Yes And Improv is simple. While we believe that improv is applicable to everyone, we also know that it is not currently accessible to everyone. We want to change that and make it easy to put yourself out there, and help everyone say “Yes, and” on their way to their most open and creative selves.
That’s why I think improv is an amazing space to work in, and I’m excited to expand its audience around the world!
-Jackson