Four Ways Improv Can Make You a Better Networker

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Four Ways Improv Can Make You a Better Networker

You just moved to a new city where you are out of your comfort zone, nervous and alone.  It’s your first day at your new job, and you think you’ve accepted a role that you aren’t quite qualified for.  Or maybe you’ve just started a new graduate program and your teacher assigned you a challenging group project.

In all of these situations, you want to build not only a professional network but a new social circle.  Where in the world do you start? Here are four ways the art of improvisation can help you overcome your fears, make connections and establish new relationships, all while having fun in the process. Networking is really NETing a new outcome based on the WORK you put in. Follow these four simple tips to help jump start the process:

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"Tell Me About Yourself." The Dreaded Interview Question and How Improv Can Help!

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"Tell Me About Yourself." The Dreaded Interview Question and How Improv Can Help!

“So, tell me a little about yourself.” The dreaded open-ended interview question.  It’s inevitable.  I shift in my seat, cough, and then drone on in a prepared statement about my qualifications, effectively reciting my cover letter by memory.  “I AM A HUMAN FEMALE WHO ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND FROM TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT TO TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE…”  Everything I’m saying is true, but I watch in horror as the interviewer’s eyes glaze over, the corners of their mouth twist into a forced smile, and they sigh, preparing to power through the rest of the interview.

I consider myself to be a somewhat interesting human being, so why do I lose all personality and sense of self when answering this question?  I truly struggled with this before I started improvising, but I no longer fear it after applying these three simple improv rules. 

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An evening with improve it! (An Inside Glimpse into our Q3 Public Workshop)

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An evening with improve it! (An Inside Glimpse into our Q3 Public Workshop)

A smiling and well dressed gentleman greets you as you arrive for an evening of improvisation, networking and experiential learning. You are then whisked to a private elevator that leads you to a gorgeous retail warehouse and office in Chicago's dapper West Loop neighborhood.

Upon exiting the elevator, you are greeted by more kind faces, provided snacks and a notebook, and surrounded by a room full of smiling strangers. You have an idea of what is in store for the next hour and a half, and you mix-and-mingle with other successful professionals before the workshop begins.

 

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improve it! Challenge #2 "Support"

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improve it! Challenge #2 "Support"

Welcome to the improve it! challenge! This week's challenge is all about showing support for the people in your professional life. 

Here's how to play: 

1) Watch this 25 second video for this week's challenge
2) Tell us how you've supported your team by focusing on their strengths in the comments section
3) On Friday, May 29th  a winner will be chosen based off their response and highlighted on our social media pages. 

*In addition, all winners will receive a spot for themselves and three friends in our Q3 Public Workshop as well as receive a $10.00 Starbucks gift card.*

We look forward to hearing your results! 

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improve it! Challenge #1 "Showing Up"

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improve it! Challenge #1 "Showing Up"

Welcome to the improve it! challenge! This week's challenge is all about showing up for your co-workers and peers.

Here's how to play:

1) Watch this 37 second video for this week's challenge
2) Enter your results in the comments section on our blog page by Tuesday, March 24th
3) On Wednesday, March 25th a winner will be chosen based off their response and highlighted on our social media pages. *In addition, all winners will receive a spot in our Q2 Public workshop as well as receive a $10.00 Starbucks gift card.*

We will be showcasing a new challenge each week, and look forward to hearing your results!

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Going Up - Episode 3

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Going Up - Episode 3

As seen in Episode 2, The Spotty Truth has used improv to "elevate" their professional lives by applying the fundamentals to their current positions. We know that if improv helps them in their day to day, it had to help them LAND the job by conducting a flawless interview. 

To shake it up a bit, we wanted to see what happens when we asked The Spotty Truth to improvise based on the suggestion "awkward interview moments." This team was so much fun that our founder, Erin Diehl, even jumped in for a bit!

Now get cozy in your cubicle and be prepared to laugh, because this is a Going Up! episode you won't want to miss!

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Going Up - Episode 1

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Going Up - Episode 1

Welcome to improve it!’s video blog, Going Up! In this series, you will find our founder, Erin Diehl, riding some of the finest elevators in Chicago, with some of the most accomplished and inspirational improvisers in town.  

This vblog will give you insight into how the fundamentals of improv have “elevated” our guests in both their professional and personal lives. And, what better place to find out how they’ve reached new heights, then in an elevator? (Beware, this is not for the acrophobic or claustrophobic!)

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The RedEye Chicago Big Idea Finale! →

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The RedEye Chicago Big Idea Finale!

We did it! We made it to the final round of the RedEye Chicago Big Idea Awards! Thank you so much for the support we received from so many of you during the semi-finals --- we seriously can't thank you enough for your kind words, encouragement and votes!!

We would like to personally invite each of you to the final round which consists of an in-person event at Chop Shop on Friday, November 14th at 7:00pm. The event will feature each of the sixteen finalist companies and the winners from each category will be selected based on votes that are cast at the event! 

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