Training to Imagine: Practical Improvisational Theatre Techniques for Trainers and Managers to Enhance Creativity, Teamwork, Leadership, and Learning

Creating innovative products and game-changing processes and adapting to new cultures and communication styles have all become imperative for life and work in today’s environment. Today’s business and non-profit leaders, from Fortune 500 companies on down, have discovered the value of improvisational theatre techniques to develop creativity and the collaboration skills they need.

Since publication of its seminal first edition, the principles and techniques pioneered in Training to Imagine have been widely adopted by organizations around the world, and have given rise to the field of Applied Improvisation. This new edition builds on the characteristics that made it the most comprehensive and most easy to apply resource for using improv in organizations. As before, this book translates the theories and exercises of improv into language that is familiar to organizational culture, and provides guidelines, case studies and exercises intended for use by individuals for self-development, for small groups, and for facilitation by trainers.

This revised edition places more emphasis on the development of leadership, in particular adding activities designed for individuals to develop skills on their own, or outside formal training environments. It builds upon what has been learned since 2001, presenting examples of practice, and research on the methods, that have proven to be most effective in the workplace. Kat Koppett has added a whole new section on instructional design to help users make informed choices in selecting activities to best support their objectives, as well as numerous new exercises.

This is a vital resource for trainers and leaders at all levels who want to increase their personal communication and creativity skills, and in inspire and motivate their teams.

The enhanced e-book edition incorporates video of sample activities and exercises, as well as interviews with leading Applied Improv practitioners. This material is also available free on the Stylus.