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Executive Education

Adaptive Communication - Thinking on Your Feet

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Become a more agile business leader through improvisation

The tools of improvisation aren't just for stage performers: they are equally essential in managerial contexts. The dynamic business environment requires leaders to observe what is happening in the moment, adapt on a dime, and create with whatever is at hand—precisely the same skills used by professional performers.

In this workshop you will learn the tools of effective improvisation, and integrate them into your managerial skill set. Develop a confident, “ready for anything” mindset that helps you find the right action in the moment. Adapt rapidly to changing circumstances. Create innovative ideas on the fly. Communicate compelling narratives, and collaborate constructively with others.

Much of the program will be spent in interactive exercises designed to ignite your ideas and develop your improvisational skills.

Upcoming sessions

(1 of 2 offerings) (2 of 2 offerings)
calendar Aug 14, 2023

In-person

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8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

price_tag $1095.00 + tax (5%)

8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

Register Now Register Now
calendar Nov 28

In-person

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8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

price_tag $1095.00 + tax (5%)

8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

Register Now Register Now

Contact us for registration support

Valerie Keenahan headshot

This program is for anyone interested in learning new paths to creativity, effective team building and communicating constructively in the moment.

Download full program description Download full program description
  • Get out of our own head, and be present in the moment
  • Think and act on your feet, to respond rapidly and appropriately in dynamic situations
  • Open up pathways for creativity and innovation
  • Get the most from your environment through active listening
  • Develop your powers of presentation and persuasion
  • Collaborate with others for truly shared projects
  • Connect with people through storytelling

Pathways to Creativity

  • Connecting with your spontaneity and making effective use of surprises
  • Using constraint as a springboard to problem solving  

Building Team Cohesion

  • Fostering respect, developing a group mindset, playing by the same rules and learning to build together
  • Adapting to change while leading and following
  • Listening for silences and finding the right moment to jump in

Creative Collaboration

  • Techniques for collaborative problem solving and making use of "bad ideas"

Presence and Power Dynamics

  • Warming up and owning the room
  • Power dynamics of physical presence and communication
  • Observing and challenging power dynamics

Storytelling as Compelling Communication

  • Narrative structures and their functions
  • Becoming inspired to tell a great story
  • Using storytelling to keep audiences engaged, storytelling with a live audience

Special features

You will hone your improvisational and storytelling skills in interactive exercises geared to a variety of situational contexts. The supportive setting will help you step out of your comfort zone, as you promote your personal and professional growth.

Andrew-Chen

Andrew Chen

Faculty

Andrew is an Adjunct faculty member at the UBC Sauder School of Business who specializes in improvisation for leaders and business communications. He is a Canadian Comedy Award Nominated performer and has worked in improvisation since 2003. He has been affiliated with various improv organizations such as the Canadian Improv Games, UBC Improv and Instant Theatre, and has offered numerous improv programs in a professional development context.

Upcoming sessions

calendar Program dates
price_tag Fees and Taxes
notebook Format
filled_point Location
Aug 14, 2023
$1095.00 + tax (5%)

In-person

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8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

UBC Robson Square
Register Now Register Now
Nov 28
$1095.00 + tax (5%)

In-person

info_mark

8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

8:30am – 4:30pm in Vancouver, BC

UBC Robson Square
Register Now Register Now

Participating organizations

Success stories

I thoroughly enjoyed this course. The instructors are refreshing, sincere and skilled at improv. They successfully combined education and entertainment with the exercises and classroom setup.”

Linda Tom

Supervisor of Real Estate Administration, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

”The course material and instructors were really awesome!”

Vikram Sohpaul

Software Developer Analyst, BC Securities Commission

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