improv in healthcare nkfi · pdf filehi t d i f i i tihistory and overview of improvisation...

andand…

Improv in Healthcare: Creating a Culture of “Yes, And…”

National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI) 14th Annual Interdisciplinary Nephrology ConferenceFriday, October 25 – Oak Brook, IL

Copyright 2013, The Improv Sensei. All rights reserved.

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Welcome!

Overview of today’s session

Hi t d i f i i ti History and overview of improvisation

Five (5) key improvisation principles

How humor serves us and others

Staying safe: de-escalation and boundary setting

Connecting the dots

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Session Ground Rules

Give yourself permission to play and have fun

Be respectful and keep specific information that is

shared confidential

Turn up all electronics to their highest possible setting

Approach today with open heart Approach today with open heart

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

You’re in Chicago!The home of deep dish pizza shady politiciansThe home of deep dish pizza, shady politicians

and….improvisation!

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improvisation is the practice of acting, dancing, singing playing musical instruments talking creatingsinging, playing musical instruments, talking, creating artworks, problem solving, or reacting in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings.

This can result in the invention of new thoughtThis can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or new ways to act.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

YOU IMPROVISEYOU IMPROVISE EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Brief history of improv

In the 1950’s, Viola Spolin created “theater games” for actors to be more present, makes choices improvisationally, and for playwrights to generate ideasp y, p y g g

Spolin revolutionized how actors and writers approached their worktheir work

Compass Players was created, eventually morphed into The Second City, Chicago

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv is based on play and games

B i f i i iBasic components of improv training:

Ice breakers and gamesg Creating imaginary environments Creating character (with emotions and specific wants) Scenes and sketches Scenes and sketches

Audience is part of the experience via suggestions

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv for everyone

“Theater games are a process applicable to any field, discipline, or subject matter which creates a place where full participation, communication, transformation can take p p , ,place.”

Viola Spolin Founder of Improvisational Theater- Viola Spolin, Founder of Improvisational Theater

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv helps us “retrain the brain”in how we connect with ourselves and each other

(Source: The Great Grind)

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLESFIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLESOF IMPROVISATION

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv Principle # 1

Improv is based on play and games, and stresses FUN as the over-arching goalFUN as the over-arching goal.

GImprov Games

• Name Game Group Introductionsp• Keep Imaginary Ball in the Air• Free Association with Ball• Zip Zap Zop Competition• Zip – Zap – Zop Competition

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv Principle # 2

Improv asks us to work collaboratively to achieve a common goalachieve a common goal.

Improv Games

• Build a Machine / Working Together (5)g g ( )• “Yes, Let’s….” Environment Building

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv Principle # 3

Improv asks us to be present, actively listen and be in the momentbe in the moment.

Improv Games

• Emotional Orchestra (5)( )• Free Association – Build a Story

(with emotion)

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv Principle # 4

Improv teaches us to think on our feet in all circumstances and go with the flowcircumstances and go with the flow.

Improv Games

• 60 Second Expert (3)p ( )

• Maintain eye contact with audience members• Demonstrate body language that evokes their expertise• Maintain and appropriate vocal level so everyone can hear• Move around the space in a natural manner

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Improv Principle # 5

Improv creates and supports a culture of “yes and ”culture of yes, and…

Improv Games

• Conduct a Story (5)y ( )• Exploring 2-3 Person Scene in Imaginary Location

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

HUMOR SERVESHUMOR SERVESUS

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

What exactly is humor?

Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement.

The term derives from the humoural medicine of the ancient Greeks which taught that the balance of fluidsancient Greeks, which taught that the balance of fluids in the human body, known as humours (Latin: humor, “body fluid”), control human health and emotion.

Source: Wikipedia

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Humor Serves Us

Our sense of humor is our greatest friend, accompanying us through life

How has humor served you in the past? Use “life lenses”: joy, growth, pain, anxiety, fear, loss

Identify 1-2 ways humor has served you from a personal or professional perspective

How may humor and/or improvisation help serve others in your current role?y

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Staying Safe in Healthcare(both physically and emotionally)

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Staying Safe in Healthcare

D l ti U i ’ d t t De-escalation: Using one’s words to prevent or end an attempted assault (verbal/physical).

This form of “conflict management” is the use of voice, tone and body language to calm a potentially violent situation before violencepotentially violent situation before violence actually ensues.

L t’ i i Let’s improvise

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Role Play # 1: De-escalation

The location is a waiting room at a dialysis treatment center. It is very hot summer day, and the air conditioning is not working which has resulted in a one hour delay of care forworking which has resulted in a one-hour delay of care for the patient and his wife.

A patient loses his temper to a care technician regarding the air conditioner and delay, and he becomes aggressive.

How would you de-escalate the patient’s aggressive behavior in this situation?

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Tips for Staying Safe (physically and emotionally)

Keep a safe distance and stay calm

Validate patient’s feelings and frustrations

Offer a short-term solution

State what you need from the patient, repeat if

necessary

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Staying Safe in Healthcare

P l B d i G id li l Personal Boundaries: Guidelines, rules or limits that a person creates to identify what are reasonable, safe and permissible ways for , p yother people to behave around him or her.

“Setting boundaries” is anything we say or do Setting boundaries is anything we say or do to communicate clearly what the consequences will be if the other person continues to treat us i t blin an unacceptable manner.

Let’s improvisep

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Role Play # 2: Boundary Setting

The location is the receptionist desk at a dialysis treatment center. A very frustrated patient approaches the

ti i t i f t ti th t hi /h ireceptionist expressing frustration that his/her insurance deductible has increased considerably as a result of new coverage parameters that he/she does not understand. g p

The patient invades the personal space of the receptionist and uses very loud aggressive languageand uses very loud, aggressive language.

How would you set a boundary to stay safe (and keep th f ) i thi it ti ?others safe) in this situation?

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Tips for Staying Safe (physically and emotionally)

Keep a safe distance and stay calm

Validate patient’s feelings and frustrations

Offer a short-term solution

State what you need from the patient, repeat if

necessary

Provide a clear consequence if the patient

continues to behave in this mannercontinues to behave in this manner

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

CONNECTING THE DOTSCONNECTING THE DOTS&

FINAL THOUGHTSFINAL THOUGHTS

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLESOF IMPROVISATION (and healthcare too!)OF IMPROVISATION (and healthcare too!)

1. Improv is based on play and games, and stresses FUN as the over arching goalover-arching goal.

2. Improv asks us to work collaboratively to achieve a common goal.

3 I k t b t ti l li t d b i th3. Improv asks us to be present, actively listen and be in the moment.

4. Improv teaches us to think on our feet in all circumstances and ith th flgo with the flow.

5. Improv creates and supports a culture of “yes, and…”

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Creating a Culture of “Yes, And…”

“That's what the center of this work is all about, what these games and exercises are all about . . . breaking down barriers between people, empowering the individual to believe in their own associations and ideas, uncovering the courage to create, the courage to communicate.”g , g

- Martin de Maat, Second City teacher

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

STAYING SAFE IN HEALTHCARE(both physically and emotionally)(both physically and emotionally)

1. Keep a safe distance and stay calm

2. Validate patient’s feelings and frustrations

3 Offer a short-term solution3. Offer a short-term solution

4. State what you need from the patient, repeat if necessary

5. Provide a clear consequence if the patient continues to behave

in this manner

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

Thank you for your service!

• You are an advanced improviser and that means you have choice

• Remember, “yes and” vs. “no, but”

• Shake up the space you take up!

Welcome 5 ImprovPrinciples

Humor Serves Us 

Staying Safe

Overview of Improv

Connecting the Dots

ONE LAST IMPROV GAMEONE LAST IMPROV GAME

andand…

Contact Info

Eric FrancqueqThe Improv SenseiPresident and Founder

t:   773.531.5722e:   improvsensei@gmail.comw:  www.improv‐sensei.com

Copyright 2013, The Improv Sensei. All rights reserved.