This document discusses the history and philosophy of improvisational theater. It originated in the 1920s to help immigrant children and was later developed at theaters like The Compass and Second City. The core principles of improv discussed are accepting all ideas without judgment, sharing focus without needing the spotlight, declaring your point of view clearly, creating an environment without status, rewarding innovation, embracing change, and saying yes to build on ideas rather than negating them. These principles are meant to help people be more creative, collaborative, and open-minded.

1. Yes, First.
How Improv
“Philosophy”
Will Change
Your Life
Lynne Morioka
Writer, content strategist,
social media specialist
@SocialViz

2. • 1920’s – Viola
Spolin developed
improvisational
“games” to help
inner city
immigrant
children
• 1950’s – Compass
Theater (later
Second City) is
born
• Dudley Riggs
brings improv
theater to the
Twin Cities in
1958

3. Accept all
ideas
• All ideas are
a gift
• Accepting all
ideas does not
mean executing
all ideas!

4. • What should we do on Saturday?
• I have a business idea – Rent a
Goat!

5. Defer
judgment
• Don’t let
your first
thought be,
“Well,
that’s a
dumb idea.”
• No ego.
• No self-
editing.

6. • The company’s intern has
something to say during a
meeting.
• Your boss is in that meeting.

7. Share focus,
accept all
styles
• Put the success
of the outcome
over your need
for the
spotlight.
• Allow others to
communicate in
the way(s) they
are most
comfortable.

8. • How do you communicate best
with your significant other?
• How do they communicate best
with you?

9. Declaration
• Declare who you are,
what you do and your
point of view loudly,
quickly and clearly.
• Speak, act and live with
clarity and purpose.

10. • Agree with something? Speak up!
• Disagree with something? Speak
up!
• Don’t know what you want? Speak
up!

11. Create a “no
status”
environment
• Create freely.
• Don’t let
perceived roles
get in the way.
• Be accessible.

12. • You’ve been the lowest on the
totem pole & you had great
ideas there, right?

13. Reward innovation and
creative risk-taking
• Get EXCITED about creating
truly innovative ideas!

14. • The status quo can be
comfortable, but it can also be
BORING!
• Shouldn’t life be exciting?

15. Yes,
first
• Say yes to an idea and build on
it.
• Saying yes to an idea allows it
to reach its full potential.

16. • A bird dive bombs you while
you’re eating a BLT. Would YOU
say yes to this idea?
• Sometimes no is necessary.
YES

17. Change is fuel
• Change is an exciting
exploration of what’s next.
• Don’t look at change as an
interruption of what’s reliable
and consistent.
• Create new skills to ignite and
promote change.

18. Change is fuel
• Don’t waste time worrying
about, “What if?”
• Instead, spend time responding
appropriately to current
necessary changes.

19. Just say no
• Say no to
judging.
• Say no to
negating.
• Say no to
figuring
out what
is wrong
with
things.
Say yes and celebrate!

20. • I say yes to hearing your ideas
and connecting with you all!
• Lynne@SocialVisibility
Consulting.com
• @SocialViz