A half dozen lawyers sit awkwardly on a Zoom call, cameras on. The instructor claps her hands.
“Remember,” she says with a grin, “there are no wrong answers. Just louder yeses.”
One lawyer, more used to cross-examinations than quick quips, takes a breath and blurts out, “Thank you and I want to … invent a talking stapler!”
The group bursts into laughter. And just like that, the exercise is working.
For the next few hours, these legal professionals – masters of control and preparation – are being asked to do the opposite.
They discover that the same skills that make a great improv scene such as listening, reacting, building on others’ ideas, can also make them better in the courtroom, boardroom and beyond.
Professionals in many sectors are trained to prepare and then prepare some more. Osgoode Professional Development’s “Improv(ed) Communication Skills: a Workshop for Professionals” flips that idea on its head.
“It’s a very cool program that focuses on skills not typically covered in most legal or professional training,” says Gail Margaret Geronimo, program lawyer for the one-day workshop offered through York University’s Osgoode PD. “Lawyers are primarily trained to be prepared. This focuses on being present – thinking on your feet without preparation.”
In a profession where every word is carefully chosen and every argument meticulously structured, improv offers a refreshing counterbalance.
The interactive online workshop introduces the fundamentals of improvisation and how they can be applied to professional communication. Key improv skills – embracing risk, reacting to the unexpected and staying in the moment – translate into real-world skills.
Offered for more than a decade, the workshop was originally developed for lawyers; now, it’s open legal and other professionals looking to strengthen communication and collaboration skills, says Geronimo.
“This includes people in positions requiring leadership, litigation, negotiation skills or conflict resolution skills – essentially, anyone who needs to respond effectively in the moment and rely on clear, adaptive interaction,” she says. “We notice that professionals need these skills on a day-to-day basis. Communicating in a way that involves being present and actively listening is a skill that’s so important to perform effectively as professionals.”
And as a bonus, it’s taught by Lisa Merchant, a seasoned performer and instructor with Toronto’s Second City, the comedy improve theatre troupe, who has over 30 years of experience.
“Lisa is fantastic,” says Geronimo. “She gets people on their feet. She’s done a good job of making the class engaging and maintaining a comfortable, safe space.”
Merchant is a senior faculty member at Second City Training Centre and a professor at Humber College, recognized for her award-winning comedy work and television appearances. She received multiple accolades in 2019, including the Toronto Star’s Best Theatre Instructor (Platinum) and Second City’s Frank McAnuity Faculty Award.
During COVID, the class transitioned from in-person to online, making it accessible to professionals outside the GTA. And with Merchant running the show, the workshop continued its momentum through the pandemic and beyond.
“We couldn’t do it as successfully online without an engaging facilitator,” says Geronimo. “Lisa really brings a lot of energy and draws people in.”
The half-day class features classical improvisation exercises and drills, with full live participation. No content is recorded, unlike other online courses.
“There are no recordings, no scripts and no retakes – just spontaneous participation. The whole tenet of improv is being present,” says Geronimo.
Participants practice thinking on their feet, answering questions on the fly and speaking with confidence and poise.
Geronimo says the class gives professionals a rare chance to stretch their skills in a low-stakes setting. “You can take chances without consequences,” she says. “It’s a practice zone where you can explore, experiment and grow.”
The next session runs Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“Many people come into the class nervous,” says Geronimo, “but they all leave energized and excited about what they learned.”
With files from Karen Martin-Robbins