Do Improvise: Less push. More pause. Better results. A new approach to work (and life).

by Robert Poynton

Every day we deal with the unplanned and the unexpected, from a broken toaster to losing (or gaining) a major client. Our natural ability to adapt and improvise gets us through. But we feel as if we’re winging it, rather than acting with courage and conviction. Robert Poynton teaches his acclaimed method to some of the world’s biggest brands and companies. Now, he shows us how these improvisational skills can be applied to the everyday business of work and life. Newly updated, Do Improvise will help you to navigate the obstacles life throws at you, and recognise that uncertainty can be enjoyed, rather than endured. You -Become more productive without trying harder -Overcome creative blocks and generate new ideas -Respond fluidly to events beyond your control -Realise that you don’t have to know everything Not sure what to do next? Improvise.

Genres: Business, Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Design, Philosophy, Psychology

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2013

About the author

I live off grid in rural Spain, 3km outside a small town that no-one has heard of. My most recent book, 'Do - Pause', was shaped by this place and its rhythms - both natural and human. I continue to write about pause. I think we need constant reminding that our best ideas and best selves come from variation, not from being 'always on'. 'Do - Pause' received so much attention when it was published last year, that I also decided to create The Pause Project (for more information see: www.pauseproject.space).

'Do - Improvise' and 'Everything's an Offer', my two previous books, are both about improv and how the ideas and practices it rests on can help us in every day life and work. I believe that creating the conditions where good things can happen is more powerful than trying to control events or people. It is amazing to me that a body of ideas I first encountered nearly thirty years ago continue to be so helpful and so relevant.

Reviews

[Paulo Peres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente livro! Excelente!

Curto. Leia com cuidado e devagar. Existem boas pérolas que lhe fazem filosofar sobre a vida e a maneira como você reage ao mundo e ao diferente.

O autor traz boas reflexões e uma conjunto simples de pensar que todos podemos improvisar, e que isso não é algo frouxo e desorganizado. Pode ter um jeito próprio, basta você seguir alguns passos.

Ótimo para líderes, designers, facilitadores e moderadores, pessoas que desenvolvem serviços, ou qualquer pessoa que se depara com reuniões em seu dia a dia.

[Lewis King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book with plenty of practical exercises. Was interested in this because I'm one of those terrible people you meet who does improv comedy. I think there are a lot of creative benefits to it which can be brought into business environments. This book gives a lot of good reasons for why organisations and professionals should embrace the philosophy of improv. There are also some great exercise suggestions (including a couple I haven't tried before).

[Rich B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this were very good. Liked the initial set-up and premise of improv being around 3 simple rules - notice more, use everything and let go. Plus the idea of seeing everything as “an offer” is an interesting and helpful way to frame having a more positive approach to life.

He applies these principles to show how they can be used in areas like communication, creativity and leadership which is all fine.

Plus, you get 6 “games" to help you practise your improv skills.

However, for what’s quite a short book, there’s still quite a lot of padding in the writing. Random and not always relevant observations and stories and a lot of repetition in covering the benefits of an improv approach. Fine to start with, but by the end, you find yourself thinking you wouldn’t have read that far if you needed more convincing about the benefits. So you get a little too much high-level philosophising and not quite enough practical application.

A few more games and practical examples, and a bit less pontification and humble bragging about his consulting business and his life in Spain would have made this book stronger.

He also points out several times that improv is about “doing” things but then rambles off onto topics that have nothing to do with doing.

It was a decent and quick read, and the basic model / premise is interesting. However, a bit of a sharper edit to focus on the “doing” would have taken this to another level.

[bam2gr]

What I like about this book is how the author keeps emphasizing that 'improvisation is about putting ___ in practice' and 'don't stick with the rules (even the ones he said)'. All in all, I think I've learned something from reading this, but it is not THAT NEW (which I wouldn't fully blame the author of that because I read this book quite too late, so I probably have seen this kind of ideas somewhere before).

[Hilary Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is improvised and Rob Poynton's book encourages us to see it that way. There are now many books on the subject but this one is to the point and practical. The challenge is to see how we apply the approach of working far more in the moment to our everyday lives and work. This is something this book achieves really well.

[Marta Susana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Me pareció que estaba leyendo una reunión religiosa sobre "improvisación". No es un libro; es un publireportaje o un seminario de esos que les dan a los ejecutivos para convencerlos de su liderazgo.
Repetición constante de mantras y vendehumos... Al final incluye una serie de ejercicios/actividades de campamento de Scouts.

[Lukas Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a lot of really great advice, which I just had to write down so I wouldn’t forget them. However, I didn’t really care for the “games” or whatever they were, as I don’t see any case where I would bring them on the table – but maybe a drama teacher could.

Overall a pretty good book.

[Kristen David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life brings new challenges every single day. Honing your skill of improvisation is key to leading a happy life and learning to thrive in the moment. Really enjoyed this book and all of the many lessons and practical applications.

[Theodora (paper.bag.reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spontaneous purchase over the weekend proves inspired. This is truly a great little book about principles of improv applied to the world of work, and it gave me both a lighter & more playful perspective and lots of inspiration

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every Do/ book I have read so far and this is no different. Short, digestible and easy to read, yet packed with inspiration and practical ideas. Add it to your reading list. Along with every other Do/ book.

[Kotryna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everything in this book refers to something I've read before in some other book, or heard on TED, or thought of myself. Mind not blown.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

some OK ideas derived from improvisation, such as generating ideas from objects. but in general not that helpful unless you want to run your own 'creativity building meeting'

[Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of an appeal to consider improv/intuition, rather than a how-to manual. The style is too heavy on anecdotes, for me. I liked the list of games at the end.

[Eve Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that gave me a nudge to think differently with tips on how to get out of my head and do. As is Do Books goal. Job done.

[Alyssa Foll · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read on the need for improvisation in life and work.

[Michelle Abel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful and practical. Easy to implement but quite powerful. Helpful when thinking about navigating complexity (in life, work, etc).

[Gemah Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my perspective in doing things in life.

[Mark Cosgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

There needs to be more improv in this world

[Richy Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for those who feel stuck. There's an invitation here to embrace the chaos and spontaneity of life. To let go of outcome and embrace surprise.

[Valentina]

Una lettura interessante anche se non si è leader o dirigenti. Interessanti anche i giochi, molti dei quali perfettamente replicabili anche con bambini o tra amici.

[Buddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short vibrant read for those in need of something to read and a bit of a shakeup. Enjoyed a lot of ideas but the most helpful one for me was the story shared by Johnnie Moore on "deep improv."

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing read following Do Purpose, Do Improvise is a book for extoverts that revel in improvisation, team building exercises, and role-play. For introverts, such as myself, the exercises suggested in this book are our worst nightmare. Robert Poynton attempts to provide ways in which we can deal with the unplanned and the unexpected by embracing the situation by making it our advantage by "winging it" and improvising. Do Improvise promises to help you become more productive without trying harder; help overcome creative blocks and generate new ideas; respond to circumstances beyind your control; help inspire and motivate others. Unfortunately it fails to deliver since it only offers one method of doing so that is undoubtedly only suited to the behaviour of extroverts.

[Alejandro Masferrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely great book about improvisation, leadership and life in general. It surprised me how motivating and clear this book is.

Straight to the point, with very good exercises, clear and practical.

Absolut worths it.

[Cilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick and easy read. Interesting view on life that I can agree with, despite me still trying to fight against it. The activities seem like they would be fun to try in a group, and I can see how they may aid in building upon leadership skills.

[Erik Sagen]

Life is improvised. This excellent book reminds you of this simple truth and provides insight and techniques to apply to your professional and personal existence.

[James Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was okay.