Yes, and!HOW LESSONS FROM IMPROV COMEDY CAN HELP YOUR DEVELOPMENT CAREER

Mike Hagesfeld - @mhagesfeld

How many developers does it take to change a light bulb?

Back to my box…

Who am I?Mike Hagesfeld - @mhagesfeldAztek – http://www.aztekweb.com - @Aztekweb.Net developer – 15 years

Second City – http://www.secondcity.comCleveland Training Center - 2000

Something Dada Improvisational Theater – http://www.somethingdada.com

Since 2001

What is improv comedy?

What is improv comedy?

What is improv comedy?

What is improv comedy?

Why do I care, Mike?

Why do I care, Mike?

Why do I care, Mike?

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Why do I care, Mike?

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Improv is Communication

Improv is Communication

But I’m not funny, Mike

But I’m not funny, Mike EVERYTHING

IS COMMUNICATION

Where and When Will I Use This?

Where and When Will I Use This?

ALWAYS!

Where and When Will I Use This?

ALWAYS! CONSTANTLY!

Where and When Will I Use This?

ALWAYS! CONSTANTLY! EVERYWHERE!

Where and When Will I Use This?

ALWAYS! CONSTANTLY! EVERYWHERE!

EVERYTHING IS COMMUNICATION!

OK, you win…but How…?

OK, you win…but How…? Ah, there’s the rub…

The Rules

RULE #1: YES! Who doesn’t like to be agreed with?You’re on my teamYou see where I’m coming fromYou’re my friend

Start in Your Yes-SpaceEvery communication has a shared goalKeep this in mind, and move towards it

Buying a carOH PLEASE GOD NO….

Buying a carBuyerWants to get the right carWants to get the options they want

Wants a good warrantyWants the best priceNeeds approval from spouse

DealerWants to meet quota – end of

monthWants to move specific carsWants to move cars on the lotWants to make a huge

commissionWants to get it over with to

get to next sale

Buying a carBuyerWants to get the right carWants to get the options they want

Wants a good warrantyWants the best priceNeeds approval from spouse

DealerWants to meet quota – end of

monthWants to move specific carsWants to move cars on the lotWants to make a huge

commissionWants to get it over with to

get to next sale

THEY BOTH WANT A SALE TO GET DONE

Rule #2: And!

But, don’t just be a “yes” person…

ADD something…How we can do it…Another thing we can do…An example of something similar you’ve done before…A possible problem……WITH a possible solution!

SOMETHING relevant

Rule #3: NEVER negate FIND the good, the agreement Every bad idea has a good kernel…and if not, make one up. There’s a reason someone proposes something…find it, and “yes, and” THAT

Buying a car Buyer – dad, 3 kids, married

◦Wants a red SUV◦Priced it out wants it for $40K with DVD player

◦Wants to come back with wife for final decision

Dealer◦End of month – needs to move cars and fast

◦Sold last SUV on the lot yesterday

◦Gets bonus if they close a deal today

Buying a car Buyer – dad, 3 kids, married

◦ Wants a red SUV Dealer

Buying a car Buyer – dad, 3 kids, married

◦ Wants a red SUV Dealer

◦ YES - need a large car for your family◦ AND no SUV currently BUT minivan

styling and drive has drastically improved◦ AND full package with DVD + rear-view

camera = $37K

Buying a car Buyer – dad, 3 kids, married

◦ Wants a red SUV◦ OK, I’ll take this home and discuss

with my wife, come back tomorrow

Dealer◦ YES - need a large car for your family◦ AND no SUV currently BUT minivan

styling and drive has drastically improved◦ AND full package with DVD + rear-view

camera = $37K

Buying a car Buyer – dad, 3 kids, married

◦ Wants a red SUV◦ OK, I’ll take this home and discuss

with my wife, come back tomorrow

Dealer◦ YES - need a large car for your family◦ AND no SUV currently BUT minivan

styling and drive has drastically improved◦ AND full package with DVD + rear-view

camera = $37K◦ YES - major decision you wouldn’t make

alone◦ AND use my office, I’ll wait◦ AND take it tonight = $36K

Buying a car Buyer – dad, 3 kids, married

◦ Wants a red SUV◦ OK, I’ll take this home and discuss

with my wife, come back tomorrow

◦Done

Dealer◦ YES - need a large car for your family◦ AND no SUV currently BUT minivan

styling and drive has drastically improved◦ AND full package with DVD + rear-view

camera = $37K◦ YES - major decision you wouldn’t make

alone◦ AND use my office, I’ll wait◦ AND take it tonight = $36K

Both sides wanted to get a car sold.The car got sold.

Rule #4: Be HonestIT’S A MATTER OF POLICY

ANYONE can give good news…

…it’s BAD news that takes courage

An excuseIs just a reason

WITH BADMARKETING

Honesty is… Telling the truth…

…not everything you’re thinking

Can you make the logo…

Can you make the logo…

BIGGER?!!?

Establishing identity is key to defining your brand.

YES!

Can you make the logo…BIGGER?!?!

Establishing identity is key to defining your brand.

Set the logo off with ample whitespace to draw attention on it’s own

Gives the gravitas of subtlety.

AND!

Can you make the logo…BIGGER?!?!

For our safety supply site….

We want a fun box! With hangman!For our safety supply site….

We want a fun box! With hangman!For our safety supply site….

People waste time distracting themselves

Your product selection is rather dry

YES!

People waste time distracting themselves

Your product selection is rather dry

Use cleverly titled blog posts direct relevance to your

work draw people’s attention driving sales maximizing visitor utility

they can crush candy on a site made for that

AND!We want a fun box! With hangman!

For our safety supply site….

Rule #5: Use DetailsIT’S ALL IN THEM

Last night…I WENT ON A WATER SLIDE I WENT ON A WATER SLIDE!

We want to use

A rotator on the homepage

So we can show

Everything about our site

In one place

The responseNODon’t do it.It’s a bad idea.People don’t use them.

The responseNODon’t do it.It’s a bad idea.People don’t use them.

YES, AND!YES - communicate the many aspects of your siteAND - Eric Runyon: ND.edu, 84% of rotator clicks on slide #1, others equally distributedAND people use mobile more, used to scrollingsame goal more effectively with parallax and

properly placed links*Source: http://erikrunyon.com/2013/01/carousel-stats/

Rule #6: Ask QuestionsTHEY’RE A GOOD THING

If questions are so bad…

If questions are so bad…

…why are they good?

So why?In improv, you’re responsible for the And. In everyday communication, you may need to help your partner find the And.Questions aren’t inherently bad, but there are bad questions

QuestionsBADShowing off, not trying to get infoHidden agenda – you already know the answerNot working towards the And

QuestionsBADShowing off, not trying to get infoHidden agenda – you already know the answerNot working towards the And

GOODEducated – filling in what you couldn’t find, not asking b/c you’re not preparedNew perspective – questions THEY haven’t thought ofHelping them get to the And

Good QuestionsWhich persona would be using this new feature?

Good QuestionsWhich persona would be using this new feature?Would we be able to apply this new technology to this?

Good QuestionsWhich persona would be using this new feature?Would we be able to apply this new technology to this?Did you talk to Person X about the time they did this?

Good QuestionsWhich persona would be using this new feature?Would we be able to apply this new technology to this?Did you talk to Person X about the time they did this?How did you come to this conclusion?

SummaryRule #1: Yes! Start in a Yes-Space, find the agreement

Rule #2: AND! Add something useful. Be prepared.

Rule #3: Don’t negate There’s good in everything. Find it, and “yes and” that.

Rule #5: Details, details, details Make it clear, eliminate the ambiguity

Rule #4: Be Honest Honesty builds trust, trust builds communication

Rule #6: Ask good questions Help everyone to find the And

Bonus Rules: Support local improv, buy speakers beer