We all know what a fantastic tool improv can be for boosting morale and connections at work. The best way to do this on your own is via a 60-90 minute corporate improv workshop by an expert trainer. But when you don't have enough time for this, these three simple improv games for team building can be taught with just a little experience. All these improv exercises for business are quick also, so that you may drop them in for a quick increase at the beginning of a meeting, or to conclude the day!
1. Three Things One player names any sort of category: "three beer labels", "three famous Italians","three ways you can murder someone using a shoe," etc., before calling on someone to reply. The answering participant has to name three things as quickly as possible; it's more important to just say whatever comes into your head than to be accurate!
Once the answering player has come up with three things, they must come up with a new category before calling on someone else to reply.
EXAMPLE ROHAN: "Three...terrible birthday presents. Thea!"
THEA: "Um...Socks. A bag of bread. A toy bear. OK...three places you have been this year. Naomi!"
2. What's In The Box? One player has the spotlight each round. Someone else starts the game by asking this player "What's in the box?"; the participant in the spotlight may reply to the question however they like, by simply naming an object (which does not have to be something which may fit in a box!) . Any other player can then come up with followup questions that the player in the spotlight must answer as quickly and simply as they can.
This is not a guessing game -- the participant in the spotlight shouldn't try to be mysterious. They only need to explain the thing in escalating detail, in reaction to every question. Plus they don't have to be smart, witty, or unique, either -- just as relaxed and confident as they can.
EXAMPLE CHLOË:"What's in the box?"
MAXWELL:"A roll of duct tape."
BRIANNE:"What colour is it?"
MAXWELL: "Black."
RAOUL:"What was it last used for?"
MAXWELL: "Repairing a bicycle."
3. Just A Minute One participant takes the spotlight, to provide a confident and fluent speech on a strange topic devised by the host. They do not have to be specialists; in fact, they do not even need to make sense! They just need to maintain the façade of expertise, by speaking without hesitating, repeating themselves, or getting off-topic. The host times the lecture; if the participant can keep talking for a complete 60 seconds, they win a point! But if another participant spots them making a mistake, then they can buzz in and announce what mistake was made (hesitation, repetition, or deviation). If the host rules this challenge to be correct, the challenger takes over to talk on the same topic for the rest of the 60 seconds.
EXAMPLE HOST:"OK, Shreya, you have one minute to speak on the topic of cutlery trays, beginning from now!"
SHREYA:"Cutlery trays may look to be an essential part of any modern kitchen, but in fact they were only introduced in 1957. Before then, people used to throw all their cutlery into one huge pile in a drawer. When it came time for dinner, folks would need to pick out forks from this pile at random..."
DEREK: "Buzz! Repetition of the word ‘pile'!"
HOST: Correct, the word 'pile' has been repeated. That means that you, Derek, now have 48 seconds to talk on the subject of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
4. Hivemind Corporate Improv Training For more adventuresome teams, Hivemind provides improv training for business that will get your group laughing together and talking meaningfully through these lonely times. Our corporate improv workshops can be delivered in 60-90 minutes.
Our improv exercises for business have been finely honed by over ten years' experience providing improv games for team building; and now accessible through an internet meeting for just 1/2 our typical price. Find out more about improv for corporations, or email hello[at]hivemindimprov.com!
