I will never forget the collective uneasiness that arose in a classroom when the phrase “group project” appeared on the syllabus. How will team members be picked? Does everyone in the group receive the same grade? Will each person pull his own weight?
The prospect of relying on others and working together brings with it the anxiety of social confrontation and the potential for conflict. Determining leaders, timelines, and workflows opens the door for disagreement in a way few other scenarios can.
Fortunately for me, I am a student of many disciplines. One in particular has been remarkably useful to me long since it ceased to be a part of my daily life.
For a time, most of my life outside of class was spent in a theater. A technique that I was never truly accomplished in but enjoyed nonetheless was improvisation. Whether in theatre classes or in jazz band, there was a sense of excitement in being given a prompt or musical lick and finding a way to expand it.
The beauty of improvisation arises when you find yourself in sync with those around you. There’s no script, but you all seem to be heading in the same direction.
I continue to recognize moments like these in my daily life. There are many open questions, undefined objectives, and outright uncertainties as projects unfold.
Earlier this year, my team was tasked with bringing back the University magazine after several years without an edition. Content was steadily compiled, but one looming question remained: what do we put on the cover?
As the deadline to have a completed draft loomed, I conferenced with the magazine’s layout designer. He and I had been working on a side video project highlighting student research, but it was still without a home. I proposed we place the video’s subjects on the cover, directing readers to an online exclusive that exemplified the theme’s of the magazine.
In a matter of minutes, he had a mock-up of the cover ready to go, and shortly thereafter we pitched the idea to the magazine’s editorial board.
I was thrilled to receive positive feedback, and very quickly the decision was made to continue in this direction.
The true value of improvisation is summed up in the words “Yes, and…” Finding a harmony with your collaborators and opportunities to contribute positively have immense value in and out of the classroom.
