Agile Lessons from Improvised Theatre
From Agile Coaches Gathering
This session was facilitated by Andy D. and Mike Sutton.
We played some popular games from Improvised Theatre, and then briefly reflected on each one, to consider the lessons that might be applicable to our coaching and consulting roles. This summary paraphrases the observations made by the members of the group during the session.
Thanks to everyone who participated.
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Contents |
Pointing at things
- From this simple game we learned that sometimes we fabricate and impose rules on ourselves unnecessarily. We learned that these false constraints (thinking we have to be clever, original or funny) prevent us doing very simple things.
Word at a time story
- We learned that sometimes there is an obvious (but maybe seemingly insignificant) role for us to play, but we undo the team's hard work if we prefer to make a different (clever / funny / obscure / challenging) contribution.
- We learned that regularly introducing new elements leads to confusion and lack of continuity.
What happens next?
- This game showed that if we introduce trouble and uncertainty too soon, people might not be invested enough to care. (paraphrasing one of the group members : "you guys are trying to kill this girl in the second sentence, and we don't even know anything about her, if she has a boyfriend, if she is studying...")
- We were much better when we were paying attention to and building on the contributions of others, than when we were simply trying to take it where we wanted to go.
Master-servant dubbing
- We learned that the person who seems to be in control is not always in total control. The person who doesn't have a voice can lead with their actions.
Speaking in one voice
- "New teams start slow, so help them with the familiar"
- Self-organisation is easier in familiar territory.
- Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow. It doesn't work for one person to lead all the time.
- It is better to lead one syllable at a time, than to go a whole sentence ahead.
