Owning Your Impact

Eric Reveno is the James Gaither Associate Head Coach of Men’s Basketball at Stanford University. This is a post from his Linked-In site, and we love a great sports analogy at CSz.

The Plus/Minus Mindset: Owning Your Impact:

A couple of years ago, the NCAA added the “plus/minus” stat to the college basketball box score. It was a nod to analytics pioneers like Dean Oliver and Ken Pomeroy, who showed that traditional stats like points, rebounds, and assists don’t tell the whole story.

But let’s be clear: plus/minus is a flawed metric in small sample sizes. At halftime, you might see “+4” for the starting point guard and “-7” for another player, and it feels definitive. Yet, as Ken Pomeroy aptly explains (https://lnkd.in/grh54W_Q), context is everything.

Heck, even at 58 years old, if I hit the floor with the right lineup, I might end up with a great plus/minus.

So, should we ditch it? I thought so—until last week.

Stanford Head Coach Kyle Smith reframed it entirely for our team. He shared how, as a kid, his dad told him:

“Your job is to make sure your team outscores the opponent while you’re in the game. Whether you’re down four when you check in or up one, when you check out your role is to have changed the score in your team’s favor. Simple as that.”

Coach Smith wasn’t advocating for the stat itself but for the mindset it represents.

Our job as teammates is simple: take responsibility for the outcomes. Line up, compete, and own it.

Life—just like basketball—isn’t fair. You’ll get credit for things you didn’t do and blamed for things you couldn’t control. But you still have to control what you can: your focus, your effort, and how you help the team succeed.

Here’s the truth: great teammates make teams better.

They solve problems, adapt, bring energy, and elevate everyone around them. They may not always show up in the box score, but their impact is undeniable. They’re called winners.

As coaches, we often talk about players who make us look good. They take solid strategies and make them great.

That’s what the plus/minus mindset demands: focus, skill, understanding, selflessness, and effort. It’s about showing up every minute to give the team what it needs.

So, whether on the court or in life, the question remains: Are you a plus?

Eric Reveno’s Linked In page, with a lot of great thinking on teams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-reveno-3b5a985/

Sitting With Uncertainty

Professor, researcher and CSz Philadelphia improviser Dannagal Goldthwaite Young joins the Hidden Brain Podcast on a brilliant exploration of uncertainty vs certainty, and how these traits may divide or unite us.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sitting-with-uncertainty/id1028908750?i=1000671334611

Rick Steadman on the ComedySportz Podcast

Our new owner (as of January 1, 2025), Rick began as a founding member of CSz Spokane, would go on to perform on the CSz Los Angeles roster for nearly two decades—including serving as their Education Director and Rec League Coach—and become the Artistic Director of CSz Seattle. In today’s episode we have the distinct honor of not only examining Rick’s extensive improv and acting career, but we get to hear both his experience taking an improv class with Alan Arkin, as well as Rick’s authentic vs. ComedySportz German-accent.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-39-rick-rock-steady-steadman/id1493584575?i=1000675324223

This was recorded before our public announcement of Rick taking over at CSz Portland.

Ruth Jenkins on The ComedySportz Podcast

CSz Portland’s Ruth Jenkins appears in Season 3 of the ComedySportz Podcast, discussing applications of improv in Speech Language Pathology, her CSz Nickname, her CSz origins and her personal meet cute story that involves 5 Things!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-38-ruth-jumping-jack-jenkins/id1493584575?i=1000673149911

Podcasts featuring CSz Portland - Patrick Short & Ruth Jenkins

One of our folks suggested we collect our podcast appearances in one place. We said Yes.

• Ruth’s Episode of The ComedySportz Podcast - recorded in August, 2024. Ruth talks with Christine Capriolo about the intersection of improv and Speech Language Pathology, plus some great stories about her 35+ years with CSz.

• The Man Alive Podcast - Improv for Dating and Relationships with Tiffany Crotty and Patrick Short, hosted by Shana James

• Patrick’s interview with Bill Haas on KXRW / XRAY.FM. March, 2022. Music, process, improv and theatre.

• The ComedySportz Podcast - recorded in March, 2020. Christine Capriolo and Kyle Hannekin from CSz Milwaukee are doing a great series on the origins and history of ComedySportz and its people. Patrick talks some origin story, some business history, some Applied Improv and about his worst improv onstage injury.

• Community Theater Heroes - recorded in January, 2019. There’s a lot of information and stories about CSz Portland and ComedySportz®, and a lot of information on how improv improves lives.

• John Cooper’s Bring A Brick - recorded in 2016. Focus on Applied Improv in Business. John Cooper is delightful. There are some other really good guests on John’s series, including Jim Ansaldo (improv for teens on the autism spectrum), Kat Koppett, Marijn Vissers, Drew Tarvin, Cathy Salit and others.

• Kevin Benson’s Bold Moves - recorded in November, 2014. Actually from a radio show on KJRB 790 in Spokane, WA. Starts with a few minutes of basic explanation of what Applied Improv is and does; Patrick’s segment starts around the 11:25 mark and runs through about 28:00.

• Jordan Carroll’s One Minute Weekly - January, 2018. A bite-sized video presentation with the basic concepts. (Please note: there are some CSz branding issues on this.)

• Adventures in Artslandia with Susannah Mars - Summer 2017. This is more about ComedySportz, but it’s fun and Patrick reveals that he is a “Dance Dad”.

10 Disadvantages of Applied Improv Training for Your Company

Let's set the scene.

YOU are excited to bring in our company to provide improv-based training in Customer Service, Leadership, Design Thinking, Team Building or Communication Skills. You've heard some great things, it looks good on the web, and our conversations have helped you shape some meaningful goals.

And then:

The naysayers start in. It's too terrifying, risky, too touchy-feely, it puts people on the spot, it's abstract, interactive, fun; it's play; it's not serious. Worst of all, it's UNKNOWN.
 

Let's talk.

1. It's Terrifying.
   
   Anything you've never done before has an element of terror in it. We understand that. Part of our introduction addresses this. You can sit out of any exercise that you are physically or emotionally uncomfortable participating in. You just can't lure anyone else out or comment on what you haven't done. Fair?
    

2. It's Risky.
   
   Anything valuable is a risk at some level. But what are you actually risking? A few hours of your team's time? That's valuable. Your reputation? Maybe, but take a look at the list of clients we've served (and it's a very partial list). Every time we engage with a new client, there is risk for us as well, but we are competent enough to take the risk. You are, too.
    

3. It's Touchy-Feely
   
   As our owner, GM and lead facilitator, I guide all of CSz Portland's business training offerings. This next bit may surprise you: I hate touchy-feely stuff in professional settings. While we aren't sitting at tables watching Powerpoints, we're not into creepy activities, either. There's a balance between fun and weird, and we tilt heavily toward the fun. I am as inspired by sports teams as I am by the theatre. We're different, and we're safe.
    

4. It's On The Spot
   
   Many people associate improvisation with performance and comedy. This is improvisation APPLIED to business. We don't make people perform in our workshops (with very few exceptions, cleared with you beforehand, almost always during advanced work). No one will be put on the spot.
    

5. It's Abstract
   
   So are concepts like accounting and marketing, until we decide what they mean. Everything we do is tied to your goals during our reflections. Your team decides what the exercises mean. At a recent Nike workshop, a participant (in the final reflection) said, "I was blown away with how each game was a metaphor for the things we face [at work]."
    

6. It's Interactive
   
   Trust your team. We do. It turns out that most people are really smart (and also kind) when given the opportunity to learn in ways that they help control. Education as a top-down model is changing. We're part of that.
    

7. It's Fun
   
   How much do you remember from in-class education from your K-12 or even college years? How much do you remember field trips, after-school clubs, drama, music and sports? I think I've made the point. Fun is learning.
    

8. It's Play
   
   As children, most of our learning about teamwork and communication came from play. Adults don't get enough of a chance to do this - we're always putting people in leagues, keeping standings and setting up competitions. In Applied Improv, we play. Everything has meaning, and every moment is a fantastic opportunity to learn.
    

9. It's Not Serious
   
   We're very serious about what we do. People "play" sports. Think they can't be serious about it? Of course, they can. We find the balance - our work is fun, and we take the meaning and value seriously.
    

10. It's Unknown
    
    This ought to scare you (if you've read this far). 
    
    We always prepare diligently for our engagements and create syllabi for each client.
    
    In 30 years, I've followed a syllabus point by point maybe 5 times. What happens is that each engagement reveals what is needed to us, and, keeping the goals in mind, we change our plans constantly.
    
    In other words, we don't know exactly what's going to happen, either! We only know that we are competent to improvise within our prepared frame and that every client discovers important things along the way.

Does this give you the ammunition you need to survive the gauntlet of NO?

If it doesn't, please contact me and I will help.

Based on a presentation by Drew Tarvin - the 10 Disadvantages are his; the replies are mine. Here is Drew's presentation to AIN2016 on this very subject!

Improv for Dating & Relationships

Tiffany Crotty and Patrick Short of CSz Portland share thoughts, insights and anecdotes about how improv can help us in our relationships - with host Shana James.

In this interesting and inspiring conversation we discussed...

- How to connect with the person who is actually in front of you, rather than being stuck in your fears or worries

- Relearning how to be a good person- supportive, collaborative, and a great listener

- The danger of making assumptions about people

- The skill of making others look good, that works wonders in dating, marriage, parenting, etc.

- What to do when you think you've made a mistake, or said the wrong thing

Listen to the full episode here:
https://lnkd.in/gnRHqJKs

Avoid Burnout Through Play

Applied Improv colleagues Gary Ware and Jeff Henry are interviewed for an article by Jyoti Jani Patel about how play reduces burnout.

Ware says, “It’s due to the low-stakes nature of play. Engaging in playful activities together creates a sense of psychological safety which results in enhanced collaboration, and a more open, communicative culture.”

Sometimes, the word “play” centered on work activities scares leadership. If that’s true in your organization, substitute the word “game” or “games”.

Here’s the full article, and it’s a good one:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jyotijanipatel/2023/11/27/playfulness-at-work-is-the-solution-to-burnout-we-want-and-need/?sh=132451404654

What Improv Gives You in a Real-Life Business Setting

I kicked ass at work today on an ass-kicking level not normally achieved by mere mortals. And I owe a lot of that to CSz Portland and CSz Worldwide, and every improv instructor or coach or facilitator I've had, and especially to Patrick Short for opening that door.

I was on a 3+ hour call with my manager and two experienced, senior developers, while I walked through automating a software upgrade with their guidance. I can't even begin to express how intense and stressful it is to have folks watching everything you type, every decision you make, as you go along. They were, of course, there to provide guidance and assistance, but every little step along the way was out there in front of everyone to see and watch as it unfolded, from the big decisions to constant typos to trying to logic my way out of problems as they occurred.

Improv training meant not having a meltdown in the middle of this. Remember to breathe, take your time, listen, and more importantly, don't be afraid of making mistakes. It is amazing how well this translates to the real world.

- John Mechalas

Work-Life Balance is a Cycle, Not an Achievement

• Pause and denormalize

• Pay attention to your emotions

• Reprioritize

• Consider your alternatives

• Implement changes

Everybody talks it - how do we actually get there (or do we)?

From the Harvard Business Review:

https://hbr.org/2021/01/work-life-balance-is-a-cycle-not-an-achievement

How Improv Makes You More Confidant and Less Anxious

Just 20 minutes of improv theater can foster creativity and confidence, and help with anxiety, depression, and your ability to tolerate uncertainty.

A great article from Greater Good Magazine:

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/improv_makes_you_more_confident_and_less_anxious

Leadership Training Works Better When You Create Community First

In this article in Forbes, Lynette Winter and Nir Megnazi talk about how they created a program, at a Fortune 50 company, where Leadership Training became less about teaching and more about community (first) and then coaching.

Here is an excerpt detailing the impact of the program:

With over 250 global leaders across 26 cohorts in a Fortune 50 company, the participants reported an average revenue or cost savings increase of $22.37 million per participant. Reduced attrition yielded a cost savings of $40 million over three years. Participants in the cohorts had a 2.7X promotion rate compared to their counterparts.

Notably, the participants' employees were surveyed and reported a much higher frequency of observed desired leadership behaviors. Consequently, overall employee engagement increased. These compelling business results showed that a leadership development program with community and coaching at the center positively impacts leader behaviors and the bottom line.

Here’s the fun and exciting part of this for us at CSz: we were a part of the front-end community-building in these cohorts. Improv for business is real and it can help deliver real results.

Here is a link to the whole article at Forbes.

NPR on What You Get From Improv

A very nice, concise article that covers the basics.

It turns out there are several mental health benefits of performing this art. According to a 2020 study published in the journal Thinking Skills and Creativity, researchers found that doing just 20 minutes of improv a day can increase creativity, decrease social anxiety and increase our ability to tolerate uncertainty.

Read the whole article here: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/19/1129907651/improv-can-build-confidence-heres-how-to-apply-it-to-your-everyday-life

From Senior Executive: How Improv Can Improve Learning and Development

• One important skill needed to succeed in both leadership and improv: active listening

• Good leaders and improvisers look to build on ideas to keep the team’s momentum going

• They also know how to quickly recover from any stumbles

Jordana Cole is an improvisor and facilitator (previously with CSz) who leads training and development at Custom Ink. Here’s a link to the article - there are some great lessons here!

As a bonus, here’s a link to Jordana Cole’s Masters Thesis, Utilizing Improv as a Tool to Enhance Workplace Relationships.

Wool&Prince Founder Finds Value in Applied Improv from CSz

Photo by Mac Bishop

Mac Bishop, CEO and Founder of Portland’s Wool&Prince, writes about his company’s experience with our Basic Improv Skills Workshop:

I'd like to share our recent team building experience. We hired an improv coach (Patrick from CSz Portland) to guide us in a workshop. I had a vague idea of the listening and communication games we'd be playing, but didn't know how advanced we'd get in a two hour workshop. Thoughts of "am I or someone on the team going to say or do something embarrassing or regrettable" were running through my mind before we started. However, in our first activity, these fears quickly dissipated and even felt irrational. The game started easy but became hilariously impossible and resulted in everyone making mistakes. The core lesson: we're human, everyone makes mistakes, don't be so hard on yourself. We tend to believe that others notice and care about our mistakes far more than they actually do. If only we could treat ourselves as generously as we treat others when they make mistakes.

By the end of the workshop, my jaw hurt from smiling so much and it ended up being one of the most rewarding Wool&Prince experiences I've had in ten years. Perhaps it was the last two years of minimal group activities due to COVID or that we went into the event with mixed expectations, or what it actually was — just an incredible shared experience of growth, laughter, and team building.

View Mac’s original post (and learn more about the great clothing) from Wool&Prince here.

How Teamsnap Embraces Improv at Work

Andrew Berkowitz has played and coached with CSz Portland since 2001 or so, and he’s also the founder of Teamsnap, great software for keeping sports teams and other groups organized and connected.

In this article, Andrew talks about how his CSz improv experience has informed how Teamsnap operates.

Here’s the complete article: https://blog.teamsnap.com/editorials/pirate-or-penguin-how-improv-makes-teamsnap-more-nimble-and-effective

On Keith: Interviews about Keith Johnstone and his Impro Legacy

The docuseries "ON KEITH: ARTISTS SPEAK ON JOHNSTONE & IMPRO" just launched with the first 3 interviews: Mark Ravenhill (playwright), Deborah Frances-White (“The Guilty Feminist” podcaster), and Dennis Cahill (Artistic Director of Loose Moose Theatre). A new interview will drop weekly over the next 3 months. Co-directors Theresa Robbins Dudeck (PhD, CAI-SP, teacher/facilitator with CSz Portland) and Alicia Robbins have been working for over two years filming these interviews with international artists speaking on legendary impro master Keith Johnstone and his work. If you like what you see, please SUBSCRIBE to show your support! "ON KEITH" will offer great content for improvisers, actors, writers, educators, and all creative humans who want to live more spontaneous, imaginative, and inspired lives!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtfgJfouC4ezkGoYizn34fQ/videos

More info at: https://www.onkeith.com/

Applied Improv is even in Forbes

Slowly, but surely, Applied Improvisation - the practice of using improv skills to improve business function and culture - is moving into the mainstream.

Now, there’s an article in Forbes. That is mainstream.

Pros:

• It’s in Forbes.

• It gets some of the concepts correct and acknowledges that there is more to it

• It’s a quick read

Cons:

• Of course the photo shows someone at the microphone, because even if the writer knows what improv is, the editor and/or designer did not.

• It’s a little heavily focused on Presenting. That’s OK, because improv helps a LOT with Presentation Skills - ask us - but there’s way more.

“Improv has become part of our daily nomenclature. It’s part of our culture. We now embrace the unknown and face any challenge with confidence, professionalism, tact and a whole lot of laughter.”

Wouldn’t that be sweet at your company?

Read for yourself.

Improv in Parenting

Keren Gudeman runs a consultancy called Improv Parenting, focusing on... improv parenting.

She interviewed a bunch of improvisors about how improv has affected their parenting. Patrick Short (hey, that's me!) was one of the interviewees.

Top 5 takeaways?

Listen Actively (NATE SMITH)

Play Detective (JACLYN NOVATT)

Let Go of Mistakes (PATRICK SHORT)

We Are All Storytellers (KAT KOPPETT)

Be Flexible (DOUG SHAW)

Check out the whole piece on Keren's blog.

Happy parenting! Trust me, it's something new every day.

New Promotional Video for Applied Improv Training

Yes, it's a promotional video.

Here's why it matters:

• Our values: Collaboration, Inspiration, Gratitude and Fun
• CSz Worldwide has trainers in many locations in the US and Europe who can deliver consistent content to your many locations - even simultaneously, if that's what you need.
• We've worked at this for a long time. This is way beyond someone you know who's taken a few improv classes and performed in a few shows sharing what they've learned. We've honed our methods over 30 years.

Have a look and let us know what you think. 

Bobsled.