Off Script: Mastering the Art of Business Improv

by Peter A. Margaritis CPA, Jeffrey Hayzlett (Foreword), Jay Sukow (Preface)

Going OFF SCRIPT doesn’t come naturally to most organizational leaders. We want to control the narrative, ensure ideal outcomes, script the conversations, manage the problems, predict the future, and win (negotiations, new business, market share, and more). But what if good leaders could become better leaders by doing the opposite — by letting go of the control, by going “off script” in their conversations and negotiations, by being present instead of rushing to the future, and by collaborating in authentic, empathetic ways?If your organization is like most, the old way of communicating and managing isn’t working for you. Status quo is coming up short. It’s time to master the art of business improvisation (“improv”)!What Improv Can Do for Your Company and CareerJoin renowned speaker, bestselling business author, Accidental Accountant, leadership expert, and improv virtuoso Peter Margaritis for an exploration of how you and your organization can go “off script” to master the art of business improvisation. In what is his third book on effective workplace communication, Peter invites managers, directors, founders, vice presidents, and chief executives to redefine leadership and teamwork. And he teaches you the techniques he’s taught employees at world-class brands like White Castle Systems, Cardinal Health, Target, Oklahoma State University, and Marriott.Business improv is about letting go of your own agenda to listen intently — to be empathetic and open-minded in the present moment — so you can truly connect with colleagues and other stakeholders to generate optimal results.Improv will help conversations forward and explore new possibilitiesTackle delicate situations and improve internal and external negotiationsManage personal and organizational changeDeliver impactful presentationsCreate space for innovation, process improvement, and profitable, sustainable growthReduce stress, increase joy, improve productivity, and transform cultures“Yes, and ...” — A Powerful Mindset for Experienced and Aspiring LeadersIn business and in life, we tend to respond to others with “No, because ...” or “Yes, but ...” These dismissive and controlling tendencies lead to impasses, arguments, and ultimately failures. But when we learn to respond to others with “Yes, and ...” — acknowledging what we’ve heard and building upon it — we arrive more quickly at agreement and at breakthrough solutions for challenging problems. “Yes, and ...” is one of several improv techniques you’ll learn from Peter Margaritis’s Off Script! — a book that will help you build bridges, generate good ideas, adapt to any situation, nurture teams, and keep your anxiety at bay.The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., improvised the most iconic moments of his “I Have a Dream” speech (originally titled "Normalcy -- Never Again") when he realized his audience needed and deserved something different. He went “off script” and the rest is history. You, too, can embrace the courage, confidence, compassion, and clarity to talk about what really matters — in the moment when it matters most — by mastering the art of business improvisation. Let Peter Margaritis show you how.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2021