Mastering Active Listening in the Workplace: Lessons from Improv

Corporate life can feel like a never-ending improv show where no one knows their lines. Meetings often spiral into chaos, with people half-listening while planning what they’ll say next—or worse, thinking about lunch. Active listening, the kind that actually makes people feel heard, is rare. But here’s the good news: improv, the art of making things up as you go, is full of tools to turn all that half-hearted listening into real connection.

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David Koff
The Role of Leadership Training in Creating High-Performing Teams

Corporate life has its moments—like the ones where meetings feel like a chaotic game of telephone, and nobody leaves with a clue about what’s actually happening. Deadlines get missed, ideas fizzle out, and morale takes a nosedive. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Leadership training is the not-so-secret weapon that transforms scattered teams into high-performing dynamos. And, with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be boring.

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David Koff
Improv for Business: The Science of Building Smarter, More Adaptable Teams

If someone had told you a few years back that improv—a skill often associated with quirky theater types—would be one of the most sought-after business skills, you’d probably have laughed. After all, what could possibly link the high-stakes world of quarterly earnings and boardroom presentations to the decidedly low-stakes world of “Yes, and…?” But here we are, with top business schools across the country folding improv workshops into their curriculums and some of the best teams in corporate America crediting improv with making them more adaptable, empathetic, and frankly, more fun to work with.

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David Koff
The Surprising Benefits of Taking an Online Improv Class

Imagine learning improv on your own terms—no stage, no spotlight, just you, a screen, and pre-recorded lessons you can jump into whenever you feel like it. Picture yourself cracking up in your living room, pausing to take in a new tip, or rewinding to replay the best moments. Online improv classes are like a secret playground you can visit anytime, full of unexpected laughs, little sparks of creativity, and bursts of confidence.

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David Koff
Improv Games for Adults to Build Wit and Mental Agility

So here’s the thing: improv is not just for the theater kids. It’s not for comedians with Netflix specials or even your quirky friend who really should be on SNL by now. Improv, as it turns out, is for us—all of us normal, mortal, occasionally humor-challenged adults who may have long buried our inner child beneath bills, meetings, and grocery lists. It’s for us, those who need a little spark, a jolt, a mental massage to knock the cobwebs off our everyday brains.

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David Koff
The ROI of Improv: How Business Training Programs Drive Profitability

On the surface, business and improv might seem like an odd pairing, but once you dig deeper, the connection makes sense. Improv is all about reacting to the unknown, staying present, and thinking on your feet. And really, what could be more useful in the business world than that? Every day, small businesses and large corporations alike face unexpected challenges, and the ability to adapt quickly is what sets successful companies apart.

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David Koff
Improv Classes in Portland: It’s Not About Being Funny

While improv may be seen as pure entertainment, it’s actually an experience rooted in human connection, collaboration, and mindfulness. Here in Portland, where creativity and individuality are celebrated, improv is more than just comedy—it’s a way to learn how to be present, listen deeply, and connect with others.

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David Koff
Improv Comedy Classes Are the New Yoga

Yoga is all about being in the moment, right? Focusing on your breath, flowing from pose to pose like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Improv comedy classes? Same idea, just swap the poses for random characters and the breath for trying not to laugh at your scene partner pretending to be a confused raccoon.

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David Koff