Communication and Collaboration: Lessons from the Performing Arts

JULIANNA RUSAKIEWICZ @juliannarusak COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION: Lessons from the Performing
Arts

@juliannarusak By the end of this talk, you will...

@juliannarusak UNDERSTAND KEY ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION By the end
of this talk, you will...

@juliannarusak BE PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT THESE TECHNIQUES IN YOUR NEXT
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS By the end of this talk, you will...

@juliannarusak A BIT ABOUT ME...

@juliannarusak ACTOR

@juliannarusak ACTOR IMPROV PERFORMER

@juliannarusak ACTOR IMPROV PERFORMER DIRECTOR

@juliannarusak ACTOR IMPROV PERFORMER DIRECTOR DESIGNER

@juliannarusak ACTOR IMPROV PERFORMER DIRECTOR DESIGNER PRODUCTION MANAGER

@juliannarusak ACTOR IMPROV PERFORMER DIRECTOR DESIGNER PRODUCTION MANAGER DEVELOPER

@juliannarusak IMPROV PERFORMER

@juliannarusak What is Improvisational Performance?

@juliannarusak Improvisation is acting...

@juliannarusak Improvisation is acting... • Without a script

@juliannarusak Improvisation is acting... • Without a script • Without
knowing your character

knowing your character • Without knowing where you are

knowing your character • Without knowing where you are • Without knowing why you’re there

@juliannarusak What are the KEY ELEMENTS of IMPROVISATION?

@juliannarusak Key Elements of Improv

@juliannarusak • Listen Key Elements of Improv

@juliannarusak • Listen • Accept collaborators ideas Key Elements of
Improv

@juliannarusak • Listen • Accept collaborators ideas • Add to
the scene Key Elements of Improv

@juliannarusak • Listen • Accept collaborators ideas • Add to
the scene • Don’t be afraid to fail Key Elements of Improv

@juliannarusak Listen Accept collaborators ideas Add to the scene Don’t
be afraid to fail

@juliannarusak EVERY GOOD CONVERSATION STARTS WITH GOOD LISTENING.

@juliannarusak EVERY GOOD IMPROVISATION STARTS WITH GOOD LISTENING.

@juliannarusak EVERY GOOD COLLABORATION STARTS WITH GOOD LISTENING.

@juliannarusak Text

@juliannarusak Text / Subtext

@juliannarusak Seeing where your partner’s ideas are going...

@juliannarusak Seeing where your partner’s ideas COULD go.

@juliannarusak Pay attention to your collaborators

@juliannarusak Stay in the moment

@juliannarusak Consider ALL ideas.

be afraid to fail

Bad Scene: Actor 1: I’m so glad we finally landed
on the sun! @juliannarusak

Bad Scene: Actor 1: I’m so glad we finally landed
on the sun! Actor 2: People can’t land on the sun. @juliannarusak

Good Scene: Actor 1: I’m so glad we finally landed
on the sun! @juliannarusak

Good Scene: Actor 1: I’m so glad we finally landed
on the sun! Actor 2: I said these heat suits would work! @juliannarusak

“I HAVE YOUR BACK” @juliannarusak

WHO? WHAT? WHERE? @juliannarusak

WHO? WHAT? WHY? @juliannarusak

Sometimes YES is not the answer @juliannarusak

BUT @juliannarusak

I hear your request, AND I have some thoughts.. @juliannarusak

“Start with a yes and see where that takes you.”
-Tina Fey

be afraid to fail

In life, most of us are highly skilled at suppressing
action...

Bad Improvisers block action often with a high degree of
skill...

Good Improvisers drive the action forward. -Keith Johnstone

Build on what has been said @juliannarusak

Add to the collaboration @juliannarusak

Offer new ideas @juliannarusak

Provide new information @juliannarusak

Make statements @juliannarusak

“I’d like to hear your thoughts.” @juliannarusak

be afraid to fail

Don’t be afraid to offer an idea @juliannarusak

Embrace and learn from mistakes @juliannarusak

Don’t feel that silence is failure @juliannarusak

“I wonder if my silence is perceived as lack of
thought?” @juliannarusak

LISTENING @juliannarusak

be afraid to fail

How do I inspire others? @juliannarusak

Set Collaboration Standards @juliannarusak

@juliannarusak BEFORE COLLABORATION BEGINS:

• Discuss the importance of listening @juliannarusak BEFORE COLLABORATION BEGINS:

• Discuss the importance of listening • Participate in team-building
games @juliannarusak BEFORE COLLABORATION BEGINS:

games • Talk openly about failure @juliannarusak BEFORE COLLABORATION BEGINS:

games • Talk openly about failure • Talk about this talk!!! @juliannarusak BEFORE COLLABORATION BEGINS:

Practice and Preparation are key @juliannarusak

THANK YOU @juliannarusak Developer at @CatchNewYork Alumni / educator @devbootcamp

Communication and Collaboration: Lessons from t...

Communication and Collaboration: Lessons from the Performing Arts

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