Develop Listening Skills with Medical Improv

The first listening workshop I designed was over 20 years ago. I was an occupational health nurse at a manufacturing company and asked to present to managers. Senior leaders wanted managers to develop listening skills to improve morale among the workers and increase creativity and productivity. I prepared a lecture and made a power point and handout.

What WAS I thinking?

I know two things now that I didn’t know then. One: me talking about listening is NOT an effective teaching method and two: facilitating Medical Improv experiences IS!

Positive social experiences and fun experiential opportunities to practice interacting with others are key for developing soft skills like confidence, self-awareness, perspective-taking and listening. And improv activities, when facilitated properly and integrated with learning objectives, discussion, reflection, and case scenarios do a powerful job.

Take for example, ‘Word at a Time Story’, described more completely in Management Consultant, Izzy Gesell, CSP’s wonderful book, “Playing Along”.  With or without a title, two or more people tell a story one word at a time. 

Like many improv activities, you cannot play without practicing listening and speaking up! 

In this clip towards the end of a workshop, certified mindfulness teacher and theatre artist, Professor Liz Korabek-Emerson, MFA and I begin a story called, “The Wise Woman and the Eggs”.

Keep in mind, we had just learned the title!

What do you notice about our communication?  

What’s happening between words? Especially when one of us says something that surprises the other? In these moments we can experience the tension of letting go of ideas and expectations and working with another’s. And having fun in the process!

Watch the whole story!

Who could you try Word-At-A-Time Story with using -“The Black Cat’s Scary Adventure”?  You are sure to tell a story that no one has ever, ever, ever told before! If you need someone to practice with reach out to me!