The Innovator’sMindsetDavid HavensimprovAnd.co
forInnovation Studio, California College of the Arts
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Improvisor’s
Growth Mindset
Design Thinking Mindset
Improvisor’s Mindset
Everything is an offer
– dictionary.com
Improvise (v.) - to make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials
are readily available.
How to Improvise
1. Cultivate Awareness
2. Accept offers (Say Yes!)
3. Support each other
4. Celebrate Mistakes
5. Make Character Choices
6. Play with life, and the rules
Cultivate AwarenessHow did you get here?
Empathy
–Mary Oliver, Wild Geese
“The world offers itself to your imagination.”
… AND! Build on the ideas of yourself and others
Spontaneity and Brainstorming
See where the ‘yes’ takes you,
the “art of spontaneity”
–Keith Johnstone, Impro
“Those who say ‘yes’ are rewarded by the adventures they have, and
those who say ‘no’ are rewarded by the safety they attain.”
Share ControlYour job is to support your partner
Our Great Ideas
(support)
Emergence
Celebrate MistakesFailure is a gift with humor and information in it
Ta-da!
Make Character ChoicesPick the right one for the occasion
Key: Ability to switch between the personalities
Body Language Matters
• Enclothed cognition - the white coat phenomenon
• Embodied Cognition - memory, friendliness + heat
• Cuddy & Carney - take up space
• High Status, low status
• eye contact, head still, movement, plane
–Dan Klein, paraphrased
“In improv, your job is not to be clever, or brilliant, or funny. Just be
obvious. Dare to be dull.”
Play life
Find The GameUnspoken rules are everywhere
Tell your storyThere are many frames for every fact
How to Improvise
Cultivate Awareness
Accept offers (Say Yes!)
Support each other
Celebrate Mistakes
Explore Character
Play with life, and the rules
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