Lesson from Improv Comedy: Be Courageous!
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Performing improv comedy can be a scary thing. Standing on a stage with nothing prepared in advance, and a crowd of people staring at you expecting you to entertain them can be a scary business indeed. For this reason, one of the key elements to an improviser's attitude is courage. The ability to look past the fear and perform anyway.
For experienced performers, there really isn't much fear. I can go out on a stage and just have fun and not be nervous because I have done it so many times. This is not courage though. Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is taking action in spite of fear. It is the new improviser who is terrified of performing that exhibits courage in his performance.
While not being afraid is a great feeling, it is also safe and secure and very little progress comes from it. An improviser who is experienced enough to not be scared will want to challenge himself by taking risks on stage and doing things he has not done before. I know that for myself, although I don't get scared taking the stage, there are character choices or scene decisions that I am unsure of because they are new, or risky, or I don't know if they will even be funny. In these moments, it is critical as an improviser that I take the chance. Having courage in those instances is what makes the performance fun, and is what allows me to get better.
In business, as in improv, these same rules hold true. Getting to a point of comfort is fine, but real progress in your business, career, or life is going to come from embracing those fearful moments and moving forward. Developing the courage to take action in these instances is critical.
Put another way, moving out of your comfort zone is tough, but it is only out of your comfort zone that you will learn and grow.
Avish Parashar is a dynamic professional speaker who shows organizations and individuals how to get what they want using the Art and Science of improv comedy. He weaves together humorous stories, witty observations, and interactive exercises from improvisational comedy to get people laughing, learning, and motivated! Avish is most commonly called upon to deliver programs on Motivation, Sales, and Communication
For more free articles, downloads, and resources, visit http://www.AvishParashar.com
To learn how to apply the powerful principles of improv comedy to your own business or life visit http://www.ImprovforEveryone.com
