It’s not a secret that much of our understanding of organizations and management as machines, rooted in the industrial era, still influences how we think about and enact management today. This has led to significant productivity gains with a focus on stability, exploitation of existing advantages, and desire for short-term gains. While good for an economy industrializing, over time, management has evolved through three distinct eras: execution, expertise, and most recently a push toward empathy according to Rita McGrath (2014) Harvard Business Review article. The article emphasized how empathy challenges traditional management by prioritizing meaningful customer and employee experiences. This shift of perspective supported leaders to view the role of emotional intelligence as a bridge to engage with stakeholders in a way that promotes a more humanistic approach to leadership and management. 

The Adventure:

This past week, we embarked on an adventure to explore a new paradigm of management rooted in the spontaneous moments of leadership. These impromptu experiences frequently arise in our personal and professional lives, creating a narrative of unpredictability and uncertainty. Despite our best efforts to plan for stability and achieve short-term productivity, these moments remind us that leadership often unfolds in ways that we cannot fully anticipate.

Life, much like leadership, is a series of impromptu moments that weave unpredictability into our personal and professional paths. In these moments, we can either open the door to new opportunities or, consciously or unconsciously, close them and miss them. 

Unfortunately, in education and management, traditional systems often suppress these spontaneous instances, stifling creativity with rigid structures and outdated tools. We believe there is a new way forward for leadership and education. This is the story of 13 courageous leaders who embarked on a journey into the unknown, embracing the challenges and uncertainties of impromptu leadership. If you’re ready to embark on this journey with us, consider these prompts as an invitation to set aside judgment and explore what’s truly possible.

What's Possible:

• What if learning could reflect the dynamic, ever-changing nature of life? 
• Imagine embarking on a journey that equips us with the skills to unlock even greater potential as leaders and teammates. 
• What if we thrived in moments of unpredictability? 
• What if leadership was about navigating the unknown and the uncertain, not with outdated tools, but with those designed for the present? 
• How would you respond to those impromptu moments in leadership?

We began our training by consciously setting aside our "judgment hats." These are the invisible lenses through which we often unconsciously view the world, both personally and professionally. We invite you to remove your "judgment hat", yes please take it off and get comfortable. We carry these judgments into meetings, emails, strategies—every aspect of our work, shaping our perceptions and actions. By removing this lens, we open ourselves to a clearer, more objective understanding.

The Path Forward:

Last week, during a groundbreaking hybrid "Improv for Communication and Collaboration" course, we embraced this mindset. The course discarded outdated leadership and communication methods, centering on the student's experiences. It fostered an environment where fear was transformed into courage, allowing participants to become both learners and educators. This dynamic approach, enriched by seamless remote participation, broke down traditional barriers, fostering deep connections and collaboration, even in a partly virtual setting. With the support of co-facilitator Christine Alexander, and masterclass leaders Christian HG Brown, and K.W. Wrede (Ken), each brought their expertise to create a transformative experience.

Participants didn’t just absorb information; they actively shaped their learning experience, creating a vibrant, dynamic environment that mirrored the complexities of the modern workplace. They were in a state of collective flow through learning.

Through scaffolded improv exercises, participants accessed hidden reserves of potential, uncovering innovative ways to communicate and collaborate that went beyond their previous experiences or perceived abilities. 

They engaged in activities that dismantled self-doubt, 

encouraged experimentation, 

and fostered fearless collaboration— 

all while playing with a sense of purpose. 

The course underscored the significance of psychological safety, trust, vulnerability, and embracing the unknown—qualities often overlooked in the traditional education and management landscape but essential for fostering innovation and collaboration in the modern workplace.

By the end of the week, the transformation was undeniable. These leaders had evolved from a group of individuals into a unified, high-performing creative force, now equipped with enhanced communication and collaboration skills to tackle today’s complex business challenges. They didn’t just learn; they experienced a profound journey of growth, creativity, and human connection that redefined what education and leadership can be.

This journey boldly demonstrated that traditional education and leadership methods are no longer sufficient. In a world demanding constant innovation and adaptability, learning must be as dynamic and spontaneous as life itself. This hybrid course proved that embracing the unplanned unlocks a world of possibilities, transforming not just how we learn, but how we live and work.

To all the courageous leaders who participated, it’s been an honor to be on this journey with you!

Warm regards,

Steve