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Improv, Strategy, and the Value of a Compass

Junior High is rough for most kids but also a time of huge growth and learning. Some things we learn and carry with us into adulthood even if we don't realize it. The ability to improvise is one of those things for me. I spent a couple of years on our school's Improv Team and learned how to interact on stage with others even if we didn't know what would come next. Think "Whose Line Is It Anyways" but with awkward teenagers who barely know what they are doing. No scripts but lots of laughs, some of them were intentional!

I learned the rules of the game such as always saying, "yes, and" instead of  "no." In improv, you never turn down what your counterpart offers. You just take it (yes…) and build on it (and…). This can lead to comical situations but it's important not to leave your co-actors in the cold by denying their idea.

Improvisation isn’t just making things up on the spot. It is drawing on training, experience, and theory. The best improv comes after learning, practicing, and planning. The planning isn't detailed, since it will only take you so far once the real task begins. Then the training and rules kick in to keep it going.

Strategy is similar to improvisation. Business strategy should be long-term and of a guiding nature but it cannot predict everything that will happen or changes that occur during operations. You can't lay out your strategic plan and expect it to progress just like it is written. Sometimes you have to accept what is offered, say "yes, and…", then get to work after the changes.

We cannot spend immense amounts of time on strategic plans hoping to detail every step and situation that will occur. That's futile and wasteful at best. We have to work towards a strategic plan that sets the direction and rules but allows for flexibility once the work starts happening.

This reminds me of another skill I learned in my adolescent years: orienteering. Orienteering is defined as "a competitive or noncompetitive recreational activity in which participants find their way over an unfamiliar course (as in the woods) using a map and compass." (Merriam-Webster)

Navigating an unfamiliar terrain with just a printed map and a compass is a skill that doesn't get much use in today's GPS-enabled smartphone world. While I'm not using those skills in open country these days, the concepts translate and come in handy when I am traversing the terrain of business operations, politics, and leadership.

I have found success because I am comfortable navigating unfamiliar territory. This comes with trusting the compass but also understanding the surroundings.  

There is a great quote from Abraham Lincoln in Spielberg's 2012 movie, "Lincoln:"

Executing strategy is like traversing unknown terrain. You’ll have to navigate a path but it isn’t just taking whatever turn you want. Your tactics need to adjust based on the terrain but you should always be checking the compass to ensure you are headed in the right direction. 

How is your current strategy working for you? Does it act like a compass as you navigate the changing world around you or does it get buried in the mess and forgotten?

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​Need inspiration? Watch this clip from Lincoln​

​Need help? Email me to schedule a free strategy review session​

Thanks for reading!

Phil

405 Leadership Advisors LLC

We help leaders define strategy and implement with ​confidence and clarity.