Whenever a Level 1 Improv class ends, students scurry around connecting on Facebook and Instagram. They drag their feet leaving the room, while exchanging contact information, as no one wants the experience to come to an end. Why?

Because although they entered the room as strangers only six weeks prior, the group forms bonds through cooperative play and team engagement.

While every improv class is a shared group experience that focuses on connecting, it also provides a team culture. The same can be said of work units, families, and any other environment where groups of people co-exist. So what makes an improv team play so well together? Each person agrees to:

1. Show up. While at first glance this seems easy and obvious, it really isn’t. Not only are you literally showing up in the space, you also set your phone aside, make eye contact, participate, engage, and be willing to be a part of the group process. No sitting on the sidelines or else the group dynamic suffers.

2. Be positive. I can coach a student with their technical improv skills, but I can’t coach someone into having a better attitude. Positivity breeds positivity. The same can be said for negativity. A group that enters their shared space smiling with the mindset of “let’s try” rather than “that won’t work” looks forward to working, creating, and playing together again and again.

3. Make “we” more important than “me.” One of my favorite improv games is Paperclip partly because it makes for a great group photo, and mostly because it showcases everyone’s true personalities. In Paperclip, the group is asked to form a physical tableau, so that everyone is seen and connected to showcase the concept of “we.” Every once in a while I’ll get a person who jumps in front of a beautiful tableau in progress to make it all about them. That’s putting “me” before “we” and in a team the ensemble is always more important that the individual members.

Let’s take these same improv ideas and look at how they play out in a fast-paced restaurant. Have you ever noticed how a great restaurant shift feels like a perfectly timed scene? It happens when every team member understands their role. Just like in class, your position isn’t just about what you do alone; it’s about how you communicate with the ensemble. When a team member shows up with that “let’s try” positivity, they provide an energy that lifts the whole staff.

Sure, proper training gives a team member the technical skill they need. But the improv mindset? That’s what helps a team member truly perform. A stellar team member doesn’t just clock in to deliver a plate of food; they actively look out for their peers. If a team leader needs someone to take on an extra responsibility, a great team member steps up. They provide backup when another team member gets overwhelmed, always remembering that “we” is more important than “me.”

At the end of the day, this connected energy directly impacts the customer. When every team member is engaged and listening, they anticipate what a guest might need before they even ask. A unified staff can adapt to a chaotic schedule or a sudden rush, making sure they consistently provide a wonderful experience for every single guest. When a team member embraces the ensemble, they help turn a regular dinner into something special for the customer.

So have you ever thought about your roll in the team you’re in whether it’s at work or at home? What kind of team member are you?

-Amy Angelilli, Owner + Ringleader, Third Space Improv