All of us know what a great tool improv can be for boosting confidence and relationships in the workplace. The best way to experience this for yourself is via a 60-90 minute corporate improv workshop from a professional trainer. But when you don't have enough time for this, these 3 simple improv games for team building can be introduced with just a little expertise. These improv exercises for business are quick too, so that you may drop them in for a fast boost at the start of a meeting, or even to wrap up the day!
1. Three Things One participant names any kind of category: "three beer labels", "three famous Italians","three different ways you could murder someone with a shoe," etc., before calling on someone to answer. The answering player should name three things as quickly as possible; it is more important to just say whatever comes into your mind than to be realistic!
After the answering player has come up with three things, they should devise 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 panda bear. OK...three places you've been this year. Naomi!"
2. What's In The Box? One player has the spotlight every round. Someone else begins the game by asking this participant "What's in the box?"; the participant in the spotlight may reply to the question however they like, simply by naming an object (which does not have to be something which may fit in a box!) . Any other player can then ask followup questions that the player in the spotlight must respond to as fast and simply as possible.
This is not a guessing game -- the participant in the spotlight should not attempt to be mysterious. They just need to describe the object in increasing detail, in response to each question. And they do not need 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 tape."
BRIANNE:"What colour is it?"
MAXWELL: "Transparent."
RAOUL:"What was it last used for?"
MAXWELL: "Repairing a bike."
3. Just A Minute One player takes centre stage, to deliver a confident and fluent presentation on a unusual subject devised by the host. They don't need to be experts; in fact, they don't even have to make sense! They simply need to maintain the façade of expertise, by speaking without hesitating, repeating themselves, or getting off-topic. The host times the speech; if the participant can keep it up for a complete 60 seconds, they win a point! But if another participant spots them making a mistake, then they can buzz in and shout out what error was made (hesitation, repetition, or deviation). If the host decrees this challenge to be right, the challenger takes over to present on precisely the same topic for the remainder of the 60 seconds.
EXAMPLE HOST:"OK, Shreya, you have one minute to speak on the subject of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
SHREYA:"Cutlery trays might seem like an important part of any modern kitchen, but in reality they were just introduced in 1957. Previously, people would throw all their cutlery into one huge pile in a drawer. As it came time for a meal, people 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 46 seconds to present on the topic of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
4. Hivemind Corporate Improv Training For more adventurous teams, Hivemind provides improv training for business which will get your team laughing together and talking meaningfully during these lonely days. Our corporate improv workshops can be delivered in 60-90 minutes.
Our improv exercises for business have been perfected by more than ten years' experience providing improv games for team building; and currently available through an internet meeting for only 1/2 our usual cost. Learn more about improv for corporations, or email hello[at]hivemindimprov.com!
