Hello all! We are in 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 Stay in the scene. This week’s lesson is….

Effort is ugly

I must admit, this one has been a challenging lesson for me! At first blush, effort is ugly goes against what I believe in and what I’ve built much of my life on. In high school I wasn’t a good athlete and didn’t have innate talent, but I was the starting nose guard on my top 10 ranked football team. I accomplished that by working harder/putting in more effort than more talented players. I’ve always said I was “low talent, high effort”.

I’m not exceptionally smart but achieved a 4.0 in grad school while also completing two emphases/concentrations and helping raise two kids. I did that with the help of my spouse at the time and lots and lots of effort. I’ve taught both my kids that effort is what matters (outcomes will take care of themselves). When I coached my kids’ house league sports teams, I always said I would rather have a team of less talented, high effort kids than more talented, low effort kids. Effort is ugly….what?!?

As it turns out, effort is ugly makes a lot of sense in certain situations.

Luckily, I’ve learned over the years that when I hear something that doesn’t make sense to me, I don’t agree with, and/or I have a strong reaction to it’s helpful to be open and curious. As it turns out, effort is ugly makes a lot of sense in certain situations. My instructor meant that in a scene I don’t need to try to do, say, or be anything. I don’t need to try to make the scene go anywhere. In fact, when I’m trying so hard to control myself and/or the scene the audience picks up on this and it doesn’t make for a good scene. What works better is if I show up in the present moment, care about and am emotionally invested in my scene partner, have a we’re in this together attitude, a “yes, and” approach, remain open and curious, and help build the scene little by little.

Wow, what a great lesson! Does it really apply to my change management work, though? If effort is ugly (or at least can be ugly), perhaps that means I don’t have to try so hard to control “all the things”, manufacture certain outcomes, or get people to do things. Maybe it means things will go better if I focus on caring about and being emotionally invested in the human beings who are experiencing the change, having a we’re in this together attitude, a “yes, and” approach, and remaining open and curious. Hmmm, there’s a chance that effort is ugly does apply to my change management work and may just lead to more successful outcomes!

Closing thoughts

I want to hear from you! What’s your reaction to my instructor’s assertion that effort is ugly? Have you experienced this in your professional or personal life?

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