Helping finance professionals master FP&A, Excel, data, and CFO advisory services through learning experiences, masterminds, training + community | Adjunct Professor in Data Analytics @ Rice University | Microsoft MVP
Many people don't know I studied improv comedy for 3 years at Chicago’s The Second City and iO. I didn't do it because I wanted to be an actor. It helped me become a better person and professional. This is what I learned: 1️⃣ It gets you out of your head Many of us in finance can be highly analytical. We may have tendencies to be logical, extensive planners, and overthinkers. But sometimes, planning or overthinking can paralyze progress. There's nothing more harmful to improv than trying to pre-plan a performance. 2️⃣ It pushes you to take yourself less seriously Personal insecurity, fear of embarrassment, concerns about looking foolish in front of an audience -- these are all reasons many people dislike public speaking. For some, there's nothing worse than intentionally putting themselves into a zone of discomfort. But that's where growth happens. When mistakes and embarrassment are to be expected, they're no longer a big deal. 3️⃣ It forces you to put faith in other people In improv, you never know where your partners will take you, just as they don't know where you'll take them. You may have a great idea in your head which your partners can't see. But when you are forced to listen to them and believe in them, you build trust. The only way we evolve as humans, businesspeople, and performers is by trusting and listening. In business, we're never fully aware of what's in others' heads. But when we can support others and let them know we have their backs, they're more likely to have ours. 4️⃣ It makes you put your trust in the process If you've ever seen a Harold -- iO's classic structure -- you're likely to think you're witnessing weirdos engaging in a trippy experience. But what you're seeing is an explosion of ideas. It's the actor's objective to say "yes, and..." by acknowledging and building upon others' ideas. These ideas then become the common threads, plots, and characters. If you've ever seen The Daily Show and other late night talk shows, the writing rooms feature similar structures for ideation. They do it because it works. When you learn trust in the process and let go of ego and insecurities, that's when the magic happens. Mistakes and missteps will always happen, but you're equipped to overcome them through skill and structure. 5️⃣ It helps you understand human truth in comedy The reason live comedy and memes can be so entertaining is because they reveal truths about who we are as humans and societies. We sometimes catch ourselves saying, "it's funny because it's true." Lenny Bruce said, "the only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it." Comedy is a reflection of us. 6️⃣ Many comedic geniuses got their start in improv Many famous actors and comedians got their starts in improv. What you'll often note about these performers is not just how funny and talented they are, but how smart and emotionally intelligent they are. Improv builds character, competency, and communication skills -- not just comedy.