We understand how to teach what we do and apply it to what you do.

Team Communication

  • Invest in your team. Plant a stake in the ground for how to communicate moving forward.

  • Learn a shared language around your habitual response to uncertainty and how to choose the one that will lead to connection and collaboration.

  • Develop deep listening skills and see the team members with empathy and understanding.

  • Know how to send and receive signals of trust and safety.

  • Build relationships and communicate clearly for a unified movement forward.

  • Engage in collaborative, creative problem-solving.

Leadership Training

Prepare your leaders for the unexpected when their challenges depend less on what they know and more on how they think. Companies that want to thrive in this constantly evolving business environment need agile leaders who can learn, develop, and adapt quickly. 

Leadership Presence & Communication

  • Learn how to show up with greater perceived authenticity and credibility.

  • Practice adaptive leadership skills.

  • Lead in a way that inspires those around you.

Risk-Taking, Flexibility, Focus & Resilience

  • Get out of your comfort zone. 

  • Practice thinking on your feet.

  • Practice new approaches to facing ambiguous situations and the unknown.

  • Learn to fail faster, fail forward, and build toward a growth mindset.

  • Learn to let go and see the possibility in reality.

  • Maintain your focus while under pressure.

  • Bounce back from unpredictable outcomes.

Your Needs Here:

  • Don't see what your team needs here? Not a problem. Our design calls are designed to uncover and address your specific team's needs so we can create an agenda that takes you where you want to go. 

  • FUN? Laughter? This is always present in our training, but sometimes, this is the desired takeaway. "We want our team to get to know each other, feel connected, and laugh." Done! We've been doing that for 30 years. You are in good hands. 

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How We Work

We'll listen to you, learn about your goals (short term and long) and outline a plan for our work together.

We'll collaborate and build an agenda that delivers on your desired takeaways.  

We'll deliver a workshop experience that packs a punch. Whether it's a one-time workshop or a workshop series we look forward to helping you create (or support) a culture that aligns with your goals.

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What our clients say...

  • Performance in World Cup skiing and snowboarding requires adaptability, an appetite for risk, and an ability to listen and collaborate through rapid communication. Stephen and Jo were able to push our most accomplished coaches well past their comfort zones and challenge them to explore new ways to lift their performance as leaders.

    Luke B, Executive VP, United States Ski & Snowboard Association

  • Kristina and Jo got us into our bodies. Not your normal day for a roomful of geeks, but once we let go, we were playful, collaborative, creative in a new way and that ignited some deep, soulful connections and ideas that helped shape our work.

    Donna M., VP of Marketing, Strategy, Discovery Communications

  • “I hired Jo to give an improv workshop to faculty at CSU Channel Islands. As teachers, we are constantly called on to improvise--no matter how carefully we plan a course, students will ask questions or encounter difficulties we haven't anticipated. Jo's workshop was informative & thought-provoking, and presented content completely outside the common literature on teaching techniques. In particular, becoming comfortable with public failure (I failed!) helped us facilitate our students' negotiations of their own challenges and failures. I highly recommend Jo. She is fun, creative, personable, insightful and very professional. And what comes out of her workshop is tremendously useful: I am still thinking about, refining, and exploring the ideas from her workshop that I attended a year ago.”

    Kathryn L., Assoc. Professor of Mathematics, CSU Channel Islands

  • Kristina and Jo’s strategic direction and improv technique dug below the surface and unearthed rich imagery and the emotional roots of a product benefit. It is doubtful that traditional consumer research could yield such results. At the end of the process, I felt entertained and most importantly, enlightened. (In partnership with The Curious Company, the consumer insight that came out of this workshop earned MINI a Bronze Medal at the Jay Chiat Research Innovation Awards.)

    Scott A, Strategy

  • Introducing improv into our training program for managers who operate our retail stores was no easy sell. How wrong were we! Jo McGinley was able to take basic improv techniques and translate them very effectively into skills that our managers can use themselves and teach to their team members. Not only was the improv training a highlight, it was cited as one of the most valuable and relevant portions of their weeklong training session. The phrase "Are you in second circle?" is now part of our vernacular here!

    Jim B, Director, RSM Communications at Disney Consumer Products

  • Their workshop quickly broke down the barriers between our new team members. Stephen & Jo introduced a common language and culture that we rely on every day!

    Yaniv K, Marketing Dept, Cisco

  • Thanks so much for your amazing presentation! Right afterwards, medical group administrators and doctors were using and experimenting with the improv concepts you introduced such as “2nd circle” and “yes and…” Many have said that you opened the door to a whole new way of thinking and possibilities that they never knew existed. Not only have the learner objectives of the project been met, but you have shown the audience that improv techniques can help them effectively transform health care in this country.

    Dr. Tao Le, Regional Medical Director, Health Net of California

  • “Kristina and Jo provided us with rare and rich insights on our executive team dynamics, individual behaviors and opportunities for creative and collaborative process improvements. The initial briefing and interviews with team members prior to the workshop provided a rare opportunity to download enthusiasm, frustrations and opportunities to improve working relationships. The workshop itself was a high-energy day. The exercises proved highly insightful, and helped the team understand what it meant in practice to be truly creative and collaborative.”

    Alistair D., CEO method

  • "This was an excellent, professionally produced training that challenged our creative-thinking process."

  • "Original, refreshing approach. Techniques were thought provoking. The stress-free environment you created helped employees overcome barriers."

  • "Totally delightful and one of the most enlightening seminars on this subject that I've attended. Brought out the behaviors that either release or block creativity. Thank you!"

  • "Wow! We have a department stuffed full of creative talent, and they do some of the best work in the communications business. They're very demanding, and can smell fluff a mile away. You took them to a new level, and left them excited and full of energy. Thank you!"

    Richard M., Director of Corporate Communications, Consumer's Energy

Improv?

Do not fear…

There is no need to be afraid that you will be put on the spot to be funny or clever. We teach Applied Improvisation, which means we introduce improv as a tool you can apply to every interaction.

Our applied improv training builds:

  • Connection

  • Collaboration

  • Communication

  • Trust

  • Flexibility

  • Mental agility

  • Active Listening

You will connect with your colleagues in new ways, shake up your expectations, and learn a shared language and foundational improv tools to help you build trust, engender collaboration, and move out of your comfort zone while maintaining a safe, supportive atmosphere.