I’m a big fan of improv. When it’s done well, it’s an art. I learned a lot about it during my years in field marketing—and I still use the techniques every day. Not the funny stuff, but the conversation steering. You’d be amazed how useful it is.
I’ve taken part in 2 sessions with Dumore Improv. They’re an Atlanta based duo who put on some the best corporate training you’ll ever see. They work globally, so if you ever need someone to for a training, check them out. Plus, ATL is a hub and flights are cheap. Fly ’em in. Totally worth it.
They’re the subject of today’s 100.
| 1 | How to navigate to yes |
| 2 | You don’t have a bad story. You’re just telling it wrong |
| 3 | When you set your partner up for success, you do yourself a favor |
| 4 | Speaking lessons learned from the worst conference I ever attended |
| 5 | For mid-level managers who want to wow their CEO |
| 6 | If it’s good enough for Pixar, it’s good enough for you |
| 7 | How to tell stories the Disney way |
| 8 | Improv. It’s like “improve” without the e. (Or stuffy office clichés.) |
| 9 | The number one mistake most people make when presenting |
| 10 | People like funny. Here’s how we do it. |
| 11 | Agility exercises for your brain |
| 12 | Good communication takes effort. Doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. |
| 13 | “Yes, and” the shit out of your next meeting |
| 14 | People will always remember your style |
| 15 | Learn between laughs |
| 16 | You might scoff at first, but when you get your boss to say yes tomorrow, you’ll believe |
| 17 | In The Moment presentation skills |
| 18 | For executives who wish their meetings ran better |
| 19 | If the whole world took this class, communication would be a lot better |
| 20 | Learn improv techniques (without the years of practice) |
| 21 | Faking your way to funny |
| 22 | Think outside the banana |
| 23 | “Whose Line Is It Anyway” skills for 9-5’ers |
| 24 | Learn how to give all the feels |
| 25 | Yes, And: 2 words that change everything. |
| 26 | How to tell your story better |
| 27 | Unscripted brilliance |
| 28 | Strong communicators practice, practice, practice |
| 29 | How listening will make you a better speaker |
| 30 | So much fun, you may not even realize you’re learning |
| 31 | The most fun you’ll have while learning |
| 32 | Silly lessons you can use every day |
| 33 | The “Wow, I just got them to say yes!” communication class |
| 34 | Yup. You can present like a TED-talker |
| 35 | Keep your brain on its toes (eeew, brain toes!) |
| 36 | How to win at talking |
| 37 | Team building without trust falls |
| 38 | Bad presenters, raise your hands |
| 39 | The “Whose line is it anyway” class for corporations |
| 40 | Learn the communication techniques employed by funny people and presidents |
| 41 | You may be picturing your audience naked, but have you thought about how they’re seeing YOU? |
| 42 | Even if they don’t remember your presentation, they’ll remember you |
| 43 | For people who want to communicate better |
| 44 | The first rule of improv is to never say no. |
| 45 | What your body language is really saying about you |
| 46 | The easiest way to get someone to say yes is to make them think it’s their idea |
| 47 | Becoming a better presenter is as easy as one, two, four |
| 48 | Good presenters aren’t born. They practice. |
| 49 | It’s amazing what happens when you listen |
| 50 | How to be the best conversationalist in the building |
| 51 | The “Wait, I actually learned something REALLY useful!” silly business class |
| 52 | Not sure what to do with your hands while speaking? |
| 53 | Get the real laugh. Not the ” because you’re the boss” laugh. |
| 54 | Right brain thinking for left brained executives |
| 55 | You’ll be a more confident speaker in just 2 hours |
| 56 | How to be spontaneous without combusting |
| 57 | The number one technique for getting people to say yes |
| 58 | Are you still presenting like a moron? |
| 59 | Good improv isn’t (just) about being funny. It’s about effective communication |
| 60 | Just because you talk a lot doesn’t mean you’re good at it |
| 61 | How to convert a shitty idea into a great one |
| 62 | Improve without the “e” |
| 63 | How to turn your presentation into a Pixar movie |
| 64 | The team building event your staff will actually like |
| 65 | The fastest way to Yes is Yes, And |
| 66 | Get to the yes |
| 67 | Funny is as funny does |
| 68 | Storytelling for middle-management |
| 69 | Improving tough conversations |
| 70 | Improv training for dummies (and smarty pants) |
| 71 | 2 little words that will change your life (and get people to agree with you) |
| 72 | In just 2 hours, you’ll be the best presenter in the building |
| 73 | If you had come to us first, that conversation with your boss might have gone a little more the way you thought it would |
| 74 | Forecasts call for brainstorms |
| 75 | Nobody plans on making a shitty presentation |
| 76 | The most fun you’ll ever have in a meeting |
| 77 | If presenting to a room full of strangers scares you to death, you’re in the right place |
| 78 | Nobody thought I could get the boss to take us to a comedy club. So I brought one to us. |
| 79 | You don’t have to be funny to be good at improv |
| 80 | Listening for dummies. Speaking for experts. |
| 81 | How to make good decisions on the fly |
| 82 | How to make difficult conversations easier |
| 83 | Are they only laughing because you’re the boss? |
| 84 | Yes, we have a PowerPoint deck. But it has pictures of puppies! |
| 85 | Active listening, innovative thinking |
| 86 | Improv training for regular folks |
| 87 | The presentation game-changer |
| 88 | The communication class for people who kind of want to be funny |
| 89 | Learn how to present about absolutely anything |
| 90 | Improv techniques to make your life easier |
| 91 | Give a presentation no one will ever forget (on purpose) |
| 92 | The 2 most useful words in business (and how to use them at home) |
| 93 | More fun than your on-boarding orientation |
| 94 | It’s not about being funny. That part just happens. |
| 95 | Helping white collar execs loosen their tongues |
| 96 | Team building skills you can actually use (No trust falls!) |
| 97 | After you learn to think on your feet, it doesn’t matter where you’re standing. |
| 98 | “I never realized how many speaking mistakes I was making until I took this class” |
| 99 | It’s not (just) about being funny |
| 100 | 11 improv tips I wish my last boss had known |
| 101 | The communications class that makes HR nervous |
| 102 | Learn to be prepared |
| 103 | You have a good story. You’re just telling it wrong. |
Overall: Pretty decent. There are some very usable lines here.
Lesson: It’s waaay more fun to write about something you’re interested in. I used far fewer formulas and pulled from my experiences. It was motivating to know this could help people I like. Best out of the 5 so far, I think. Let me know if you agree. Comments welcome!
I wrote nearly half of the lines without looking back at the website—which, in hindsight, was a mistake. I need to focus more on being concise and useful rather than forcing the creative.
Maybe I’ll revisit this one later.
Also, if you’d like to see me tackle a particular topic, let me know. Sometimes choosing a subject is just as hard as writing the lines. (No, no it’s not. That’s not even remotely true.)
Total time: Lost track. Sorry! I started this one last night, then came back and finished it over 3 short sessions throughout the day. Much less draining and a night of sleeping on the ideas results in better work. I’m going to do this more often when I can. I’d estimate about an 1:05
Love “After you learn to think on your feet, it doesn’t matter where your standing.”
Thank you! That was also my favorite ?
“How to be spontaneous without combusting” is SO strong. And not to be the dick that does this (but I’d want someone to tell me) there’s a grammar typo on #97. Can’t wait to read more of these!
Thanks, Lyndsay! I really appreciate the encouragement. Good eye on the typo. You win! 🙂 (Fixed)
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I hear so many of our remarks from our workshops in here. And brain toes, come on, who doesn’t love brain toes?!?!
I’m so glad you saw this, Allison! Have at ’em. You’re the inspiration behind the post. 🙂