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Yesterday Amelia, Sam and I delivered the goods in Rutherford, New Jersey at the Williams Center. This tech company is going through changes. Improv helps bring the community together and gives folks the skills to navigate those changes.

We started with an improv comedy show, playing skits and songs improvised based on audience suggestions. Most of skits involved team members up on stage with us.

Then we broke into three sessions, each of taking 15-20 to run ice breakers and other games that develop community and leadership skills.

The world changes every day. Life happens. Tech changes faster. Thanks to AI, faster than ever.

In improv we often have to pivot on a dime. New ideas coming at us from all sides are gifts. While most fear the unknown, we celebrate and thrive in the void.

Inevitably when I introduce a new game, someone gasps, “OH NO!” or “That’s sounds hard!”. Yesterday, one guy said “My brain is hurting” all before playing.

Seconds after we start, all is fine. The games are easy. The fear is real, but unnecessary and incredibly unwarranted. Except for the fact the world has taught most to fear the unknown.

This fear shuts us down. We fail to try anything new. We hide in the corners, or in our comfort zones. We form cliques. We get lost in echo chambers. Some fear all public speaking. Others suffer from social anxiety. Many over compensate with ego and arrogance. Far too many confuse those with confidence and competence.

Worrying about being good enough keeps us from being great. In every game we demonstrate the power of letting go. We move past ego and insecurity and achieve new heights.

Two hours cannot solve the problems of the world but we put a dent into the problem. We show a path forward. We teach games teams can bring back to the office. We introduce concepts that can be life changing when embraced.

Now it up to the team leads and every individual. In Weight Watchers, they say “do what yiu always did, get what you always got!”

I have seen terrified souls find peace after 5 minutes of improv. I know a few pro comics and actors that still let ego and insecurity hold them back from their truth potential. The moment yiu let go, the sooner you start growing ro new heights!