We all know what a fantastic tool improv can be for boosting energy and connections in the workplace. The very best way to do this for yourself is through a 60-90 minute corporate improv workshop from a professional trainer. However, when you do not have the time for that, these three easy improv games for team building can be taught with only a little expertise. All these improv exercises for business are fast also, so you may drop them in for a quick increase at the start of a meeting, or even to wrap up a working day!
1. Three Things One player names any sort of category: "three ale brands", "three famous Spaniards","three different ways you can murder someone with a shoe," etc., before calling on someone to answer. The answering participant has to name three things as fast as possible; it's more important to just say whatever comes into your head than to be realistic!
After the answering participant has come up with three things, they must devise a new category before calling on someone else to reply.
EXAMPLE ROHAN: "Three...dreadful birthday gifts. Thea!"
THEA: "Um...Socks. A bag of bread. A polar bear. OK...three places you have been this past year. Naomi!"
2. What's In The Box? One player 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 answer the question however they like, simply by naming an object (which does not have to be something that can fit in a box!) . Every other player can then come up with followup questions which the player in the spotlight should answer as speedily and simply as they can.
This isn't a guessing game -- the participant in the spotlight shouldn't try to be mysterious. They only need to describe the object in escalating detail, in reaction to every question. And they don't have to be clever, funny, or unique, either -- just as relaxed and confident as possible.
EXAMPLE CHLOË:"What's in the box?"
MAXWELL:"Duct tape."
BRIANNE:"What colour is it?"
MAXWELL: "Black."
RAOUL:"What was it most recently used for?"
MAXWELL: "Repairing a bicycle."
3. Just A Minute One player takes the spotlight, to provide a confident and fluent presentation on a obscure topic devised by the host. They do not have to be specialists; in fact, they don't even need to make sense! They just need to maintain the appearance of expertise, by talking without hesitating, repeating themselves, or going off-topic. The host times the lecture; if the speaker can keep it up for a full minute, they win a point! However, if another participant spots them making a mistake, 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 the same topic for the rest of the minute.
EXAMPLE HOST:"OK, Shreya, you've got one minute to talk on the topic of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
SHREYA:"Cutlery trays might look like an essential part of any modern kitchen, but in fact they were just introduced in 1957. Previously, people would throw all their cutlery into one huge pile in a drawer. When it came time for dinner, people would have to pick out forks from this pile at random..."
DEREK: "Buzz! Repetition of the word ‘pile'!"
HOST: Correct, the word 'pile' was repeated. That means that you, Derek, now have 46 seconds to talk on the subject of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
4. Hivemind Corporate Improv Training For more adventurous teams, Hivemind offers improv training for business that can 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 fine-tuned by over ten years' experience supplying improv games for team building; and currently accessible via an internet meeting for only 1/2 our typical cost. Find out more about improv for corporations, or email hello[at]hivemindimprov.com!
