The Art of Improv-ing Listening Skills on ZZTV's #TEDTalkTuesdays

Key Points in This Episode

• A reflection on Julian Treasure's TED Talk "5 Ways to Listen Better"
• Using improv to grow connections  between two people through listening and building on risk, spontaneity, trust, and confidence
• How improv relates to and can help with business, networking, and teamwork in the workplace

About The Guests

Ellen Ornato and Jenny Drescher have 30 years of combined experience in facilitation, coaching, and speaking, and are the Founders of Connect and Improv, helping to build connections in your organization through trust, empowerment, and confidence.  Ellen and Jenny aim to create positive, lasting impact in workplaces and collaborative environments. 

Q1: Why did you choose this TED Talk Video?

• Public speaking and communication skills are important in business and improv
• Listening is more key in business leadership than talking all the time

Q​2: Julian Treasure says the art of conversation is being replaced by personal broadcasting and it can affect our listening skills. How can we address or manage this?

• Be mindful of your screen time versus actual eye contact and human connection
• Use listening to advance great ideas on both ends of interaction

Q3: Talking about "The Art of Improv-ing listening skills." What is improv?

• Improvisational theater is about creating a reality by building connections between two or more people based on suggestions from an audience
• Principles and exercises from improv apply to the business context of listening

Q4: How did you both start with improv?

• Fun and spontaneous improv workshops

Q5: Tell us about how you came to realize that there was a connection between performance improvisation and business skills?

• Business and improv are both about accepting, acknowledging, and honing given information without necessarily agreeing with it

Q6: What specific muscles does practicing improv exercises have for entrepreneurs? What are some simple improv exercises that can help us to listen better? Suggestions to live streamers and broadcasters to use improv to improve quality of presentation?​

• Improv helps with embracing cooperation instead of competition and accepting instead of shutting down suggestions in the workplace
• Create an inner conversation to deflect unrelated thoughts. Ask yourself "Why am I thinking?"
• Pause and discipline yourself to be in the moment
• Research and be prepared but be ready to react in time

​Q7: What are some of the common errors that people make in networking situations that lead to frustration and a lack of enthusiasm for attending events and conferences?

• Delivering an artificial elevator pitch instead of relating to people as people not prospects
• Oversharing information about yourself and your experiences without being genuine

About ZZTV's #TedTalkTuesdays

ZZTV's #TEDTalkTuesdays episodes feature vibrant discussions and conversations on TED Talk presentations! Zef Zan hosts and brings guest speakers or guest co-hosts to her live ZZTV shows! Learn more about this broadcast here.