It takes courage to improvise

Thank you for joining us again at the end of this week.

We’re almost halfway through March and 2022 is cracking along at a rapid rate. Given the speed at which time seems to be passing (maybe it’s just us that feel this way), it’s very easy to fall into a routine that might not be completely of your choosing. Now obviously there will always be floors to sweep, school runs, morning meetings, deadlines and meals to be cooked. But if we’re not careful, a quarter, a year, a decade can pass us by without us realizing that we’re running in a hamster wheel. If you’ve ever done any open water swimming, you know how important it is to pick your head up every now and again, just to make sure you’re still heading in the right direction.

Humans are creatures of habit. We need routine to make us feel safe. The right amount of predictability is healthy. Too much chaos will drive us crazy. But too much predictability, routine and structure is stifling, boring and suffocating.

Lets look at two examples from the world of entertainment to bring the point across:

In music, the very best musicians are often identified by their ability to improvise. They know how to play a song the way it was written, but to test their abilities and keep the audience engaged, they will often venture out on a limb and play a completely new variation of a part which they are making up as they go along. It is exhilarating to watch, since you know that something new is being created right before your very eyes. But yet they have the skill to seamlessly integrate this new creation into the existing piece of music you know and have come to love. They know how to not get lost, so to speak.

The next example comes from improvised acting which shows like Saturday Night Live and Whose Line Is It Anyway? have made famous. These actors have a vague idea what the topic or skit is about, but they have the ability to confidently venture out and make things up as they go along. Sometimes things fall flat (which doesn’t really phase them), but every now and again they create comedic genius that blows your mind.

So what does this have to do with anything in the real world?

Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been sharing some thoughts on the value of living with courage. The notion of improvisation seems to rely heavily on our openness to leave the tried and tested route behind (even just momentarily) and venture in a slightly different direction. Doing anything new, different or challenging requires at least a small bit of courage. It is the secret ingredient we need to successfully navigate between the stifling routines and earth shattering chaos that make up human existence.

Maybe you need to wake up earlier, look for a different job, make an uncomfortable phone call, move to a new city, say no to something, say yes to something or someone, or try something new you’ve always been too self-conscious to do – it literally could be anything. Reading through this, you might already have an idea of what that courageous act could be. Start where you are and take the courage to improvise a little.

“What good are wings without the courage to fly” – Atticus

At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.