A Few Fantastic Improv Theatre Games to Support Boosting Morale In the Office
We all know what a fantastic tool improv can be for boosting morale and relationships in the workplace. The best way to do this for yourself is via a 60-90 minute corporate improv workshop from an expert trainer. But when you do not have enough time for this, these three easy improv games for team building can be introduced with just a little experience. All these improv exercises for business are fast too, so that you can drop them in for a fast increase at the beginning of a meeting, or to conclude a working day!
1. Three Things One player names any kind of category: "three lager brands", "three well-known Spaniards","three ways you can murder someone with a shoe," etc., before calling on someone to answer. The answering participant needs to name three things as fast as possible; it is more important to just say whatever comes into your mind than to be true!
After the answering participant has come up with three things, they should 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 panda bear. OK...three places you have been this past year. Naomi!"
2. What's In The Box? One player has the spotlight each round. Someone else starts the game by asking this participant "What's in the box?"; the participant in the spotlight can reply to the question however they like, simply by naming an object (which doesn't have to be something that may fit in a box!) . Every other player can then come up with follow-up questions that the player in the spotlight must respond to as speedily and simply as they can.
This is not a guessing game -- the participant in the spotlight shouldn't attempt to be mysterious. They only need to describe the object in escalating detail, in response to each question. Plus they don't need to be clever, witty, or unique, possibly -- just as relaxed and confident as possible.
EXAMPLE CHLOÃ:"What's in the box?"
MAXWELL:"A roll of duct tape."
BRIANNE:"What color is it?"
MAXWELL: "Black."
RAOUL:"What was it most recently used for?"
MAXWELL: "Fixing a bicycle."
3. Just A Minute One player takes centre stage, to deliver a confident and eloquent lecture on a unusual subject devised by the host. They don't need to be specialists; in fact, they don't even need to make sense! They simply need to keep up the appearance of expertise, by speaking without hesitating, repeating themselves, or getting off-topic. The host times the lecture; if the player can keep talking for a full 60 seconds, they win a point! However, if another player spots them making a mistake, then they may 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 present 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 may seem to be an essential part of any modern kitchen, but in fact they were just introduced in 1957. Before then, people would throw all their cutlery into one big pile in a drawer. As it came time for supper, people would need to pick out forks from this pile randomly..."
DEREK: "Buzz! Repetition of the word âpile'!"
HOST: Correct, the word 'pile' has been repeated. That means that you, Derek, now have 48 seconds to speak on the topic of cutlery trays, starting from now!"
4. Hivemind Corporate Improv Training For more adventuresome teams, Hivemind offers improv training for business that can get your group laughing together and connecting meaningfully during these lonely times. Our corporate improv workshops can be delivered in 60-90 minutes.
Our improv exercises for business have been finely honed by more than ten years' experience supplying improv games for team building; and now available through an internet meeting for only 1/2 our usual price. Learn more about improv for corporations, or email hello[at]hivemindimprov.com!