To work well, you gotta feel good. Nothing says "feel good" like a serenade from the 90's!
Check out this week's Mid-Week Mix and get into the groove!
https://open.spotify.com/user/improveitchi/playlist/4tEeWcZe6wceSnxM0m5qHV
Read MoreThere's no "empower" without first having "power"! Jam out to some of our favorite classics in this hour-long mid-week mix.
https://open.spotify.com/user/improveitchi/playlist/2mXswiS80cXoTHlSPN7y2S
Read MoreWhen we make our clients dreams come true? We feel like celebrating. If you're in the same boat, tune in.
Read MoreI’ve always appreciated growth. Growth from knowledge, people, and a massive range of experiences. Experiences happen daily, and each one with improve it! has been incredible. Incredible are the moments when you find yourself noticing new talents and passions. Passions are quite interesting, when you think about them, and how they affect workplace magic.
Read MoreMotivation starts from within! A few hot tracks don't hurt either...
Enjoy these feel-good classics and get that motivation flowing!
Read Moreimprove it! family - meet Claire! Claire is a wonderful human, doggie owner, and cheerleader of everything improve it! She has been in attendance at almost every one of our public workshops this year.
Claire is also the President of the Bear Necessities "Young Professionals Board", and introduced us to the organization that is now our charity partner.
Shine on, you beautiful star! Read more about Claire and how improv has a place in her professional life below.
Read MoreWorking at improve it! has been quite an adventure. I started out about seven months ago feeling like a small, shy girl having her first real world experience in the work life. And now, I’m sitting here on the last day in the office, feeling sad because it’s the last day, but more courageous, confident, experienced... who am I kidding, the list goes on. I have had so many memorable experiences with improve it!, but I would like to share my favorite parts.
Read MoreYou 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:
Read MoreA 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.
Read More
On Thursday morning of last week, we were honored to be a part of American Marketing Association's Kick Off Event at the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown Chicago with all 70 internal employees! Five improve it! improvisers from a mixture of our teams helped facilitate: Max & Patrick from Knuckleball, Cristy & Sam from The Spotty Truth and Stephanie from Stranger!
We helped kick off AMA'S move to their new space by providing our Team Building workshop. Throughout the course of the two hours, an Improv Chicken Champions were crowned, new products were invented, and the buzz word of the day was "YES!" These guys were a fantastic team who truly support their peers and know what it means to "show up" for one another.
We had a blast and are looking forward to seeing what other amazing things this organization will do! We think it's safe to say that American Marketing Association rocks! YES, you do!
Read MoreAfter back-to-back client meetings, my boss hung up the phone, looked at me, and said, “let’s eat.” It had been a productive, albeit very tiring morning full of meetings and negotiations and we both needed to get some lunch before continuing on with the day. What I forgot was that I blocked off my lunch hour in order to prepare for an operations meeting that was occurring in the afternoon.
Instead of checking in with my team and seeing where the progress on a project stood, I was enjoying a bowl of chicken chili, a green smoothie, and talking with my boss about the NHL Playoffs.
How many times has this happened to us? Where a meeting runs over and we don’t have time to prepare? Or, let’s be honest, we simply forget that we had a meeting? It’s happened to me more than a few times.
Rather than letting our unpreparedness set us up for failure, here are a holster of improv tactics that will not only make you look completely ready, but also allow you to effectively participate, stay present, and add value in any business meeting...
Read MoreAs 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!
Read MoreThe Spotty Truth is one of our three improvisational teams here at improve it!, and the “truth” is, we pinch ourselves daily that this talent is a part of our organization.
The Spotty Truth has been performing improvised biographies together for over two years. They have performed at The Den Theater, Studio BE, Bughouse Theater, Donny’s Skybox, Stage 773, Collaboraction Theater, Elgin Studio and all over Chicago. They have appeared in the St. Louis Fringe Festival, The Detroit Improv Festival, The Chicago Improv Festival and The Twin Cities Improv Festival. Spotty members have trained at comedy institutions The Second City, iO Theatre, the Annoyance Theatre, Comedy Sportz and 500 Clown Theatre.
The Spotty Truth has worked with us on a variety of workshops and performances, and are always high-energy, engaging and above all FUN to work with. Don’t believe us? Watch the video for THE (spotty) TRUTH.
Read MoreWe provide high-energy, laughter-filled team building workshops that incorporate improvisation teams & techniques, as well as improvised performances at corporate events, while donating a portion of our proceeds to charity. We learn your story, style and goals, and customize a workshop or performance that is unique to you.
