An Impro workshop for your business or event will...

"Put people together in a way that will have them bouncing ideas off each other and taking care of each other, and suddenly they are coming to you not with gripes and problems, but solutions and great ideas"
Richard Branson, Business Stripped Bare

Become more creative
 
Why are some teams more productive and creative than others? What practices and environments aid the creative process and strengthen the dynamics of a team?

The creative process is a delicate thing that is easy to halt or hinder. How often is the first response you hear to an idea "but..."? Accepting and building on ideas rather than stifling them at birth is a skill improvisers are masters at - when you are living on the fly onstage, you have nowhere to hide and need to develop ideas to their fullest.

Learn how to generate ideas from nothing and allow the creative process to flourish. Become more creative - both as an individual and as part of a team. You'll experience the impro rules and structures that encourage innovation and creativity - and become aware of the blocks to the creative process (usually fear of making mistakes, and being too judgemental too early in the
creative process).

Communication skills
 
Improvisers require heightened levels of communication to successfully create performances onstage. These skills can be used to improve your business, public and personal communication too. Your physical and vocal style is the secret to success. Let us improve your performance in meetings, presentations and
all interactions.

Be part of a star team
 
A star team always beats a team of stars and creating cohesive ideas, characters and stories on stage requires a star team.

Improvisation is a great team builder. It fosters an environment allowing:

The ideal way to break the ice with new staff or integrate different teams is through an impro session or two. The participants will not only be learning a highly creative skill and having fun - they'll be getting to know each other and working effectively together at lightning speed too.

What to expect at an Impro workshop
 
The workshops are 99% practical.

The best way for learning to take place is not sitting in a lecture or seminar with a pen and paper but actually getting up and "having
a go".

Experiential learning is recognised as having a much greater impact than theoretical learning and it's much more fun. In a SPROUT IDEAS workshop, most of the work is in pairs and small groups.

SPROUT IDEAS workshops will engage everyone from the first minute, so be prepared to start immediately. After some exercises to warm up both mind and body you'll be introduced to the principles and skills of improvisation. Our trainers will guide the participants through various exercises that refine or develop a key impro skill - be in spontaneity, listening, thinking on your feet etc. You'll learn the building blocks of improvisation - highlighting how they may relate to your own situation.

Impro games and exercises are challenges to the way we communicate and create together. The challenges are made harder by imposing rules to stretch us in new and different...and fun ways. For example, some rules may force us to be more spontaneous, or may limit our vocabulary, or may make heightened listening a premium. Doing an impro workshop is a bit like visiting a gymnasium of machines designed to work your thinking muscles.

And don't worry, we won't be telling you how to do your job - you are the experts - but we'll introduce you to a transferable skill set that you'll be able to apply where you feel appropriate.

You don't have to be funny - but you will have fun!
 
A common misconception is that you have to be a comedian or particularly witty to succeed in improvisation. One of the first things we tell our participants is "Don't try to be funny".

Unlike stand-up comedy, improvisation is not a solo activity. There will be laughter - but it will be through the collective imagination creating something brand new.

Experienced tutors
 
The thought of doing an impro workshop an elicit many responses from... "Oh wow - that sounds really exciting" to "Oh my God - I don't want to make a fool of myself". Out tutors are well versed in creating a supportive environment allowing everyone to enjoy themselves. Whether they begin the session enthusiastically, or as a slightly worried rabbit caught in the headlights, everyone will soon be comfortable enough to be able to have fun and
start improvising.

How long is an impro session?
 
It's up to you - we customise our sessions to suit the client and the time available. However, the shortest session we'd recommend in which to address goals like teambuilding and communication is a half day (3 to 4 hours). A whole day allows for a more thorough exploration of what improvisation can offer.

Fees
 
This depends on the length of the session and the number of trainers required. We are happy to discuss what programme would suit your business/event.

Tailored training solutions
 
What kind of programme are you looking for? Give us a call and we can discuss what sort of programme would suit your business or event.
Email us at: info@sproutideas.co.uk
or call us on 020 8923 2545