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Build a Better Team with Improv

Wade Minter (TeamSnap), Andrew Berkowitz (TeamSnap)
1:30pm Monday, 07/25/2011
Business, Community, Education
 Location: D136
Tags: training, improv, teambuilding
Presentation: Build a Better Team with Improv Presentation [PDF]
Average rating: ****.
(4.67, 9 ratings)

Growing high-tech companies often spend thousands of dollars on corporate team building because it’s critical to get new groups working well together. In this workshop, two longtime corporate trainers (and principals in a successful high-tech start-up) teach the basics of improv-based team building exercises. You’ll come away with techniques and exercises you can take back to your own company, whether it’s a three-person start-up or a thousand-person dotcom heavyweight.

This is not a lecture, but an on-your-feet workshop. Participants will move, laugh and get to know each other while learning the basics of improv-focused team building. The “Yes And” philosophy of improv is valuable for managers, team members or anyone needing to simply get along better with co-workers. No need to take notes—all participants will receive a link to the entire curriculum, as well as additional exercises and information they can take back to their own companies.

Great for anyone on any kind of team—development, marketing or business—as well as both native and non-native English speakers. No fire-walking, drum circles or touchy-feely stuff. Just real improv exercises for bringing groups together.

People planning to attend this session also want to see:

Photo of Wade Minter

Wade Minter

TeamSnap

H. Wade Minter is the CTO and occasional sysadmin/developer for TeamSnap, an application that makes managing sports teams and groups easy. He is also the ring announcer for a professional wrestling group. The two may be related.

Andrew Berkowitz

TeamSnap

Andrew Berkowitz is a founder and Vice President of Product Development at TeamSnap.com. He is also Head Coach of ComedySportz Portland, a branch of the international Comedy Improv Theater.

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Comments

Timothy Mitchell
08/02/2011 10:18pm PDT

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant!! If you guys come back next year, I’m there!! (Will twist and break whoever’s arm to get there)

Thanks for eveything gentlemen! :)

Timothy Mitchell
08/01/2011 10:03pm PDT

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant!! If you guys come back next year, I’m there!! (Will twist and break whoever’s arm to get there)

Thanks for eveything gentlemen! :)

Stuart Malkin
08/01/2011 9:50am PDT

This was exactly what I needed in an afternoon session after a long-winded technical session. I felt that the practice of using improv in the workplace is a very valuable skill in making a better team environment and having fun while working. I hope they will have a session like this next year!

Picture of Michael Brewer
Michael Brewer
08/01/2011 9:22am PDT

Really well done; a very useful (and quite fun) tutorial. Excellent job! :)

Picture of Jessamyn Smith
Jessamyn Smith
07/30/2011 10:27am PDT

Fantastic session! I hope OSCON has more sessions like this next year. :)

Andrew Berkowitz
07/27/2011 4:26pm PDT

Hey everybody! Complete notes from this session are now available at bit.ly/pFb7jN

Picture of Brady Mathis
Brady Mathis
07/26/2011 11:06am PDT

Well done, gentlemen. This was a valuable session and will make a positive impact on the entire OSCON experience. @OSCON: Bring these chaps back next year.

Picture of John Fitzpatrick
John Fitzpatrick
07/26/2011 9:11am PDT

An excellent class for techies and folks uncomfortable in front of people. The exercises follow a grade, from easy and harmless to ones the introverts might find intimidating. The effect is to “boil the frog” by small changes, with participation bymost if not all

Sharon Belliveau
07/25/2011 10:57pm PDT

This session was great. Time well spent practicing how to be positive and open and creative. Hope there are more sessions like this.

Andrew Berkowitz
07/25/2011 7:54pm PDT

Thanks to everyone who attended this session today! You were AWESOME! Notes will be up shortly, and you can contact Wade and Andrew at @minter and @andrewberkowitz.