Collaboration (Yes, and)

This opening module introduces the "Yes, and" mindset from improv as a tool for workplace collaboration. Participants prepare beforehand by reflecting on their comfort with thinking on their feet and communicating virtually, then open the live session with a small-group check-in to surface personal and professional intentions before diving into core "Yes, and" skills.

This module teaches Level Three Listening ??? deep, values-focused listening that goes beyond downloading and factual listening ??? using the "Platinum Rule" of reflecting back what matters most to a speaker. Participants first check their own level of presence, then learn the three levels of listening (Downloading, Factual Listening, Deep Listening) and the behaviors that signal Level Three. They practice through paired exercises: a Two Minute Reflection, where one partner shares a recent challenge and the other reflects back a summary, what mattered most, and the values it revealed; and a Peak Experience exercise, where partners share a proud or fulfilling work moment and the listener identifies the values it illustrates. Discussion afterward connects this reflective listening technique to giving feedback and holding themselves and direct reports accountable.

This module builds comfort with making mistakes as part of learning new soft skills. Participants learn the "Failure Bow" ??? stopping to throw their arms out, declare "I failed!", take an exaggerated bow, and applaud themselves whenever they make a mistake during practice ??? and use it throughout the workshop to reframe errors as useful rather than shameful. The module also covers ways to bring this mindset back to a team, such as a "failure jar," a "Ta-Da!" gesture, a designated emoji or gif for mistakes in chats, a team-specific ritual, or a recurring "fail of the week" in meetings.

This warmup module builds core "Yes, and" collaboration instincts through two physical and verbal exercises. In Triangle Offense, participants move through a room in shifting pursuer/defender pairs and then form equilateral triangles with two partners, practicing constant peripheral awareness and adjustment to what teammates are doing. In Cereal Naming, participants build on each other's ideas aloud to invent a cereal name, practicing spontaneous collaborative idea-building. Together the exercises generalize the mindset of reading and adjusting to a group, and making it easy for others to build on your contributions.

This module teaches the improv principle "Yes, and" as a tool for team collaboration and brainstorming. Participants learn the difference between accepting and blocking ideas (with a cost/benefit breakdown of each), and practice phrasing that captures the "yes, and" spirit without needing the literal words. Practice runs through a series of improv-based and business-framed exercises ??? including "I'm a Tree," "Remember Mexico," "Party Planning," "Boardroom Brainstorm," "The Photojournalist Returns," "Product Launch," and two versions of a "Three Favorites Brainstorm Mashup" ??? where participants compare "no, because," "yes, but," and "yes, and" responses to feel the difference in energy and output, then apply the mindset to real moments in their own meetings and teamwork.

This module builds skills for supporting teammates and collaborators, especially when work gets hectic, by shifting from a competitive, high-achievement mindset to a collaborative one. Through the Pattern Pointing Game, participants practice noticing what others might miss, building on what teammates share, and reinforcing each other rather than competing. A structured debrief then has participants map their own role in a complex organizational system, identify who they communicate with, and examine how to make each handoff work smoothly for everyone involved.

This module builds the ability to speak and respond coherently without preparation time. Participants learn the four point-of-view questions (why should they listen to you, why them, why do you care, and what's the takeaway) as a fast way to organize a message in seconds, then practice moving ideas forward collaboratively through "Word at a Time Expert" exercises, where a group answers questions one word at a time as a single collective voice. A listening exercise (Peak Experience) rounds out the module, having partners practice sustained, undistracted listening and reflecting back what matters most to the speaker.

This closing module wraps up the "Yes, and" collaboration workshop by having participants reflect on what they learned and commit to applying it. Participants discuss whether they met their session goals and identify one tool they'll practice immediately, then take home structured exercises???including the "I'm a Tree" activity and a Five-Minute "Yes, and" Brainstorm???to introduce the "Yes, and" mindset to their own teams and reinforce it through personal reflection practice.