We all know what a great instrument improv can be for boosting energy and relationships at work. The best way to experience this for yourself is via a 60-90 minute corporate improv workshop from a professional trainer. But when you do not have enough time for that, these 3 simple improv games for team building can be taught with only a little expertise. These improv exercises for business are quick also, so 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 sort of category: "three beer labels", "three well-known Swedes","three different ways you can murder someone using a shoe," etc., before calling on someone to reply. The answering player has to name three things as quickly as possible; it is more important to just say whatever comes into your head than to be true!
Once the answering player has come up with three things, they should 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 areas you've been this past year. Naomi!"
2. What's In The Box? One participant has the spotlight every round. Someone else begins the game by asking this player "What's in the box?"; the player in the spotlight can reply to the question however they like, simply by naming an item (which doesn't need to be something which can fit in a box!) . Every other player can then ask followup questions which the player in the spotlight should respond to as quickly and simply as they can.
This isn't a guessing game -- the participant in the spotlight shouldn't attempt to be mysterious. They just need to describe the thing in escalating detail, in response to every question. And they don't need to be smart, witty, or original, possibly -- just as relaxed and confident as they can.
EXAMPLE CHLOË:"What's in the box?"
MAXWELL:"Tape."
BRIANNE:"What color is it?"
MAXWELL: "Purple."
RAOUL:"What was it last used for?"
MAXWELL: "Repairing a bike."
3. Just A Minute One player takes centre stage, to provide a confident and fluent speech on a bizarre subject devised by the host. They do not have to be specialists; in fact, they don't even have to make sense! They simply need to keep up the appearance of expertise, by talking without hesitating, repeating themselves, or going off-topic. The host times the speech; if the player can keep talking for a full 60 seconds, they win a point! But if another participant spots them making a mistake, then they may buzz in and shout out what mistake was made (hesitation, repetition, or deviation). If the host decrees this challenge to be right, the challenger takes over to speak on precisely the same topic for the rest of the minute.
EXAMPLE HOST:"OK, Shreya, you've got one minute to talk on the subject of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
SHREYA:"Cutlery trays might seem to be an important part of any modern kitchen, but in reality they were only introduced in 1957. Previously, people would throw all their cutlery into one huge pile in a drawer. As it came time for dinner, people would have to pick out forks from this pile randomly..."
DEREK: "Buzz! Repetition of the word ‘pile'!"
HOST: Correct, the word 'pile' has been repeated. That means that you, Derek, now have 47 seconds to speak on the subject of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
4. Hivemind Corporate Improv Training For more adventuresome teams, Hivemind provides improv training for business which will get your team laughing together and connecting meaningfully through these lonely days. 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 only 1/2 our typical cost. Learn more about improv for corporations, or email hello[at]hivemindimprov.com!
