Workshop

Basics of Improv for Business

Build a team that says 'Yes, And' to every challenge

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Team members laughing and collaborating during an applied improv workshop

Who This Is For

  • Teams looking for a fresh, energizing approach to professional development
  • Newly formed teams or departments that need to build trust quickly
  • Organizations navigating change, mergers, or restructuring
  • Leaders who want to model adaptability and openness for their teams

What Your Team Will Learn

  • Respond to unexpected situations with nimbleness instead of resistance
  • Practice the 'Yes, And' principle to build on others' ideas constructively
  • Break habitual thinking patterns that limit creative problem-solving
  • Strengthen trust and psychological safety within your team
  • Develop active listening skills that improve every interaction
  • Leave with shared language and tools your team can use immediately

How It Works

Duration

1 hour to multi-day (customizable)

Group Size

8 to 1,000+ participants

Delivery

On-site at your location, at our Portland theatre, or via Zoom

Customization

Fully tailored to your team's goals and industry context

The Workshop That Started It All

For over 30 years, CSz Portland has been teaching organizations a deceptively simple truth: the skills that make great improvisers are the same skills that make great teams. This isn’t about being funny. It’s about being present, responsive, and genuinely collaborative.

Our Basics of Improv for Business workshop is where most clients start—and it’s our most requested program for good reason. Through a carefully designed sequence of exercises, your team will experience what happens when people stop defaulting to “no” and start building on each other’s contributions. The shift is immediate and visible.

Every exercise maps directly to a workplace behavior. When participants practice accepting an unexpected offer in an improv scene, they’re rehearsing how to respond to a surprise in a Monday morning meeting. When they learn to make their partner look good, they’re building the muscle memory for genuine collaboration.

Your facilitator will debrief each activity, drawing explicit connections between the improv principles and your team’s real-world challenges. Participants leave not just energized, but equipped—with a shared vocabulary and concrete practices they can bring back to their desks the very next day.

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The Science Behind Applied Improv

Download our free guide exploring the research behind why experiential learning transforms team performance.

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Ready to get started?

Book a free 15-minute discovery call. We'll talk about your team and recommend the right program.

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