Cultivating an Improv Mindset with Avril Orloff

One of the challenges we face as visual facilitators is the improvisational nature of the work. When we go into a live job, we generally know the topic and perhaps some of the key themes, but we don’t know what people are going to say till they say it. So we need to be great listeners, be attentive to what’s emerging, connect the dots into a bigger picture, and be able to adapt quickly to the changes that almost inevitably happen in the flow of the session.
‌
During the pandemic, Avril started taking classes in Applied Improv, and quickly realized that they were not only incredibly fun and uplifting, but that the principles, practices and mindset of improv were a brilliant way to cultivate the skills she needed in her work as a graphic recorder and facilitator.
‌
In this session Avril will introduce us to some of the key principles of Applied Improv and lead us through some games designed to strengthen our listening skills, build flexibility, and cultivate a “yes, and” mindset that grounds us in the moment while simultaneously expanding our sense of larger possibilities. Caution: laughter may ensue!