Hello all! I recently started a series called What does improv have to do with change management? In this series, I’m sharing some of the lessons I’ve learned so far from improv class that have direct application to my work as a change management practitioner. Last week’s post was Give a sh*t, be emotionally invested, and care. This week’s lesson is….

Have a “we’re in this together” mentality

This lesson is closely related to last week’s. As someone new to improv, I find myself thinking a lot about how I’m going to make it through a scene safely and successfully and what will work out best for me. As a result, I may be inadvertently hanging my scene partner out to dry or making them do more of the work. My instructor has coached me that it’s helpful to come into a scene with an “us” mindset; We are in this together. No matter how things unfold, our goal is to work things out for our mutual best interest.

We are in this together. No matter how things unfold, our goal is to work things out for our mutual best interest.

When I’ve done this, I’ve noticed that it makes a difference in what I do / the choices I make and how I feel throughout the scene. The vibe and energy is just different in a good way and the scene ends up being more successful.

I think this is also true in change initiatives. As a practitioner, it can be easy to focus on the tasks I need to do and the final deliverables, timelines, and outcomes/metrics that the initiative sponsors have and forget about the people involved (project team, front-line managers, and front-line employees for three examples). As a result, we may be able to put checkmarks next to all the tasks we completed, but we will have left our “scene partners” out in the cold throughout the process. This isn’t a good recipe for successful short or long term change.

When we as change practitioners come into a project with an “us” mindset our goal is to work things out for everyone’s mutual best interest as much as possible. This gives us a chance to achieve the final deliverables, timelines, and outcomes/metrics that the initiative sponsors have and care for / involve the people involved throughout the process. The vibe and energy on this type of project is just different in a good way and the project ends up being more successful.

The vibe and energy on this type of project is just different in a good way and the project ends up being more successful.

Closing thoughts

I want to hear from you! What has been your experience working on projects that take an “us” / we’re in this together approach vs. those that are focused more on all the tasks that need to get done and the final deliverables than on the people involved.

Please post your thoughts and comments below. Let’s help each other become the best change management practitioners and enthusiasts we can be!

Thank you for reading. Until next time, take care and keep up the good work!

Mike