Top 3 Improv Team Building Exercises that could help the Toronto Maple Leafs

Okay, so after a few games this season, it’s apparent that the Leafs are missing Marner. Or, if not specifically Marner, someone who knows where everyone else is on the ice at all times. A playmaker. Someone who thinks as a team, instead of what’s feeling like a series of individuals on the ice at the same time.

Hey, it’s cool that everyone is trying to step up individually, but it’s not gonna be enough. If, however, everyone starts thinking a little more as a collective, you could make up for Marner in the aggregate. Here are some improv exercises that could help the Leafs hone their team cohesion.

1) Matthews in the Middle

Have the team get into a circle. One player skates into the centre of the circle and starts to dance. Or sing. (AND sing?) Whichever seems like more of a nightmare. The idea is that being in the middle is uncomfortable. That person dances/sings until someone else comes and takes their spot in the middle. Meaning, the people on the outside of the circle have to decide if they’re going to take the spot in the middle away and have to dance/sing (which sucks), or just leave the person in the middle to suffer (which sucks).

The lesson: Which sucks more, being embarrassed yourself, or watching your teammate be embarrassed? Get to the point where they care about each other more than themselves.

2) Blind Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course (cones to go around, tables to go over and/or under, objects to hit with the puck). Break into two teams to have them race against each other (so there are some stakes). One at a time, a player from each team with go through the obstacle course blindfolded, with only the words of their teammates to guide them through it safely. The next person goes when the previous person has successfully completed the course and passes them the puck (both blindfolded).

The lesson: Give up wanting to control the situation and learn to trust your teammates completely. We fail and succeed together.

3) Word at a Time Story

Get in a circle. The person with the puck says one word to start a story, then passes the puck. The person who receives it, says the next one word of the story, and bounces the puck to another player. The key is to keep the puck moving, and go fast, no time to judge or think of the “correct” next word.

The lesson: There’s a saying in improv, “Don’t bring a cathedral into a scene. Bring a brick; let’s build together.” It’s not about any one word, it’s about the whole story.

That’s it. Give them a try. Or not. After all, I’m just some improv guy, and you’re a professional team with a professional plan. In which case, don’t book a workshop because you need it, book one because they’re fun! (And you might need it.)

100 Ways to Play at Work #24: Personalise Your Handshake

If it’s your first time meeting someone, probably keep it formal. You’ve got your standard handshake, or fist bump, or slap into slide into snap. But if it’s someone you’re excited to see again, it’s time to celebrate with some complicated full body greetings gymnastics. A movement that you two create together, that is just for you. Hip bumps, spins, lifts, make it impressive enough that other people in the group will be so impressed they won’t mind waiting it out each time you two see each other.

Who’s your handshake buddy?

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This series was inspired by people asking me “How do I keep doing improv?” after a corporate improv workshop. There are, of course, improv classes, more workshops, team building exercises you can do with your group, but these games are specifically ones you can do on your own to practice “Yes and” and get into a state of play.

“Yes, and” and How the Toronto Blue Jays are Redefining Success

The Toronto Blue Jays lost the 2025 World Series. But did they? Yes. But did they, really? Unfortunately, yes. Based on the numbers.

But also based on the numbers, I bet there were more people cheering for the Jays than for the Dodgers. Sure, that’s just opinion without any evidence, but that’s all the rage right now, so I’ll just move forward as though that’s fact. I think it’s because the Blue Jays were the better “team.”

There’s a research study that got kids to take a test, with one half of the kids being celebrated for correct answers, the others were celebrate for their effort. They were given a second test, much harder than the first. The kids who were praised for success struggled more and gave up quicker. The kids who were praised for effort, didn’t give up and stuck with the harder test longer.

My point is, the games the Dodgers were losing, they looked all sullen and put off by the fact that they weren’t just automatically winning. The games the Jays were losing, they still kept each other’s spirits high. There was still a wanting to keep trying, a joy of being together, and enjoyment of being the moment.

The Jays love baseball and being a team. The Dodgers love winning.

In improv, winning is about supporting each other. “Yes, and” is an agreement to think collaboratively, and build on each other’s ideas. It’s not about one person’s ego, but what’s best for team as a whole.

In sports, it’s taught that winning is the only measurement of success. In life, I like to think we can all learn from the Jays.

The Dodgers won the World Series. The Jays won the hearts of everyone who watches baseball. They clearly love the game and love each other. Losing sucks. But getting to play a game for a living, with your friends, with the world cheering you on sounds like winning to me.

“A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you’re not enough without it, you’ll never be enough with it.”

– John Candy’s character in Cool Runnings

Improv for Anxiety for Business: What if my staff is terrified of an improv workshop?

A lot of times when I’m working with a company to plan their improv workshop, it’ll be brought up that amidst all the excitement and buzz for the event, there’s also a fair amount of trepidation. Meaning, some of their coworkers/staff have come up to them and said, “Do I have to do the improv?” “Will we have to go on stage?” “What if I’m not funny?” All the fun stuff our brains think about.

So they ask me, do you know how to handle a workshop when some (or most) of the people are terrified and don’t want to be there? And I’ll say, honestly, that’s my specialty!

I go into corporate workshops almost the same way I go in to teach an improv for anxiety class. Knowing that there’s a mix excitement and nervous energy. And quickly explain that improv isn’t about being individually funny or showing off, it’s about connection and collaboration, and building ideas together without judgement. In other words, goal #1 is to create a safe space.

For any adult, the idea of “being silly” can be scary. Most of us have been told off for “goofing around” since we were kids. Parents, teaches, managers all telling us to be more serious. Add to that the fact that during the workshop you’re still technically “at work” and depending on who participates, you might be acting goofy in front of your boss(es).

But there’s no reason we can’t do our jobs seriously AND also enjoy them. We can be talking to coworkers about an important project, and yet still enjoy the conversation. Humans instinctively want to play and connect and enjoy life, it’s just been a while since we felt “allowed.”

Improv is as a place where you’re allowed to have fun. And to put everyone at ease, no, I’m not gonna start the workshop with “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” style scenework, where two people have to be funny while everyone else watches. Sure, I could probably find two volunteers willing to do it, but I can tell you the anticipation/dread from the people “waiting their turn” won’t be fun. As much as improv is about stretching comfort zones, it ain’t about breaking them.

Think of improv as a series games and exercises designed to get people playing together like kids used to during recess. Moving around and being silly, connecting with your inner child, your free to be creative side, your state of play.

Because yes, an improv workshop is going to help everyone think faster on their feet, adapt to change, listen and communicate more effectively, feel more confident, and all that good stuff, but one of the main keys is that you’re laughing while learning. So it’s important that they’re having fun. Because it’s easier to play and laugh when you’re not so scared. 

How Fortune 500 companies use improv to build their leadership skills.

PART 2: Improv helps you care about others.

In Part 1, we talked about the importance of the ability to make decisions. Now we’re talking about which decisions to make. And ideally, they’re decisions that will help the team you’re leading.

Imagine you’re on stage with someone. And they start the scene by saying, “Well, I hope you’re happy now.” In Part 1 we talked about all the decisions that need to be made to help build the world out of imagination. What did you do? Who would ask you that? What’s the context? Etc. All decisions you could make by going in your head and rummaging around for answers.

Now let’s shift outside ourselves and focus on them. How did they say it? Annoyed? Angry? Almost laughing? How are they looking at you? How close/far are they standing? What do they want from you? Like is it funnier TO THEM if you say that you are happy now?

In other words, improv teaches you to care about your scene partner(s). In real life, you can think of your “scene partner” as anyone you’re having an interaction with. Be present with them. What are they feeling? What do they want out of this conversation?

Humans tend to think other people think like they do. And often get frustrated when they don’t. But with improv, you quickly learn to be open to different ways of thinking, and even more important, appreciate different ways of thinking. So in a leadership position, you learn it isn’t about teaching your staff to be more like you, or that you’re the only one who knows how to do it “right,” but appreciating people for who they are, and what they can bring to the table.

In other words, you learn to let go. Leading isn’t about control. At first, out of fear, people often try to steer conversations/situations to where they want it to go, or to where they think it should go. But it’s hard to control others, and make them say or do everything you want. It’s frustrating. So with improv, you give up control, and the next thing you know, you’re sharing an experience where the collective ideas are way better than your individual ones would’ve been.

In conclusion, if you want to care more about others, a key leadership skill, you should definitely try improv.

100 Ways to Play at Work #22: Status Numbers

It’s funnier that the servant (low status) be smarter than the king (high status). It’s playing with expectations and surprise. (Though it turns out, having someone so incompetent in such a position of power isn’t that funny.) But status can move around. It shifts.

A project manager might make you feel like a 2 (out of 10), then commiserating with a friend can bump you up to a 9. You could feel like an 8 going into a meeting, see that the whole C-suite is there for some reason and drop to a 3.

So here’s the challenge: feel like a 10. As often as you can. Play a confident character. Not a 9. 9’s are still competing for status and will try and put others down to build themselves up. A 10 isn’t battling for status. They have it. They’re secure in themselves. They are enough. So enough, they’re willing to help others who are still struggling with status.

You may not always feel like it, but just know, you are a 10.

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This series was inspired by people asking me “How do I keep doing improv?” after a corporate improv workshop. There are, of course, improv classes, more workshops, team building exercises you can do with your group, but these games are specifically ones you can do on your own to practice “Yes and” and get into a state of play.

The 10 “Z's" of Choosing the Best Team Building Activities

As we all know, any list that uses all the same letters is clearly more thought out, and not just a gimmick. It’s like when common sayings rhyme, they’re just better. And this list should be considered the most definitive, based on Scrabble scores.

Here are the 10 “Z’s” you need to make sure you’re choosing the perfect team building activity for your staff/executives/board members/friends and family.

Zeal

It’s gotta be an activity people want to do with great energy and enthusiasm.

Zen

It’s gotta be something that connects them to their senses and intuition.  

Zone

It’s gotta get them in the zone. Like, locked in.

Zig-zag

Hmmm, okay, yeah, it’s gotta help them be able to pivot their thinking in the opposite direction, and then back again.

Zestful

Um, did I mention it’s gotta be something people do with great energy and enthusiasm?

Zoo

It’s gotta have some level of confusion and disorder. And people behaving like animals.

Zombie

It’s gotta break them out of their regular behaviour patterns.

Zarf

That thing that goes over a coffee cup to keep you from burning your hands. So, like, the activity should help your team protect each other from… heat and stuff.

Zoomies?

It’s gotta get them running around like dogs that need to get rid of some excess energy, because they’ve been sitting in front of the computer all day.

Zip-Zap-Zop

It’s gotta be an improv game. It’s fun. You should try improv.

Wondering which team building activity does it all?! Including the last one, which is specific to improv? It’s improv!

Book your improv workshop today and reach the zenith of team building activities!

Top 3 Reasons your Staff hates Team Building Activities

#1: They don’t want to look stupid.

Most team building exercises are designed to be fun. Which sounds great to the person booking, and potentially terrifying to the people expected to have this so called “fun.” Fun sounds silly, and they don’t want to look silly. It’s embarrassing to act like a kid when you’re not a kid (especially in front of coworkers).

You see, adults not only forget how to have fun, they’ve been trained that fun is bad. Having fun means you’re not working. And you’re supposed to be working! So even if the boss says it’s okay to play, it takes time to get people feeling safe enough to be silly.

Mainly because, they don’t want to fail. That’s the real “What if I look stupid?” “What if I try something new and I’m not good at it and I fail and everyone thinks I suck?” Most people are terrified of failure. Which is why a lot of team building events are built around alcoholic drinks.

Solution: Avoiding silly, while it seems like what they want, isn’t going to help anyone grow. I’m proposing we go completely the other way. Stretch their comfort zones by going super silly, with potential to fail, but in a way that they fail together, and feel safe from judgement. That’s the key. And that’s the “Yes and!” of improv!

#2: They’re busy.

If it’s during the day, they’re busy with work. They might like the idea of fun, but if the deadlines stay the same, that “fun” is just gonna feel like another thing crammed into their already busy schedule.

If it’s during the evening, they’re busy with life. They’ve families, and friends, chores, health issues, and a whole world outside of work that let’s be honest, probably still requires them to work.

Solution: Keep it short and sweet. Have the event come to you. No prep needed. Just walk down the hall, join the improv workshop, have fun for an hour, then back to work feeling refreshed. And better for it. Because one thing that can help them overcome Reason #1 and #2 is that the activity will help them. Which brings us to…

#3: They don’t see the value in it.

People want to clearly understand what the activity is, and what they’re going to get out of it. How is this going to help me grow at my job or life? Basically, will doing this and learning this skill help me get better… and therefore make more money?

Or, if they’re not motivated by money (rare, but they exist), will this help make my life easier? Will I feel more at ease working with others? Will this make new ideas come more effortlessly?

If you’re going to get your staff to look past Reasons #1 and #2, then the activity has gotta be something they know for sure will benefit them.

Solution: As always, improv. Most people understand that being good at improvising helps with every interaction you have in life. The ability to adapt to change without panic. To think on your feet. Get good at small talk, better at presenting, thinking more creatively, improv makes you better at everything!

In conclusion, your staff might hate the idea of a team building activity, and we understand that. But it all melts away when, within minutes, they’re all laughing and having fun together without judgement, stretching their comfort zones and learning new skills.

Click here to book your team a workshop they’ll love!

What’s a fun activity to do for a company holiday party?

Okay, I’m a little biased, but since you’re asking me specifically, I’d have to say improv.

But let’s break it down for a sec. What do employees want in a holiday party?

First thing is probably booze. Ideally, free booze.

Then, to have fun. Have an activity that gives them something to do so they don’t have to resort to small talk.

Which brings me back to improv.

• It’s super fun, to the point where they wouldn’t realize they’re learning key skills (ironically, one of them being better at small talk).

• It gets everyone involved, even the shy ones, believe it or not.

• It gives people the chance to show how naturally or unnaturally funny they are.

• It’s a chance for everyone to laugh and play together.

Add some booze to that and you’re golden. ;)

Reach out and we’ll help you build that hilarious holiday party!

10 Best Team Building Activities to do in Toronto (that are all Improv)

#10 Ziplining Improv!

A thrill ride of excitement. You’ll feel like you’re falling without a net!

#9 Cooking Class Improv!

Learn some new skills that’ll make every dinner party a success!

#8 Escape Room Improv!

Solve mental puzzles to help you break free from being trapped in room with a bunch of coworkers.

#7 Paintball Improv!

Outwit, outplay, and outlast in this exciting physical team challenge.  

#6 Wine Tasting Improv!

Hone your senses to help you truly experience and savour the moment.

#5 Trivia Night Improv!

Test your knowledge in real time on a wide array of different topics.

#4 Boat Cruise Improv!

Go on a journey together to enjoy the sights and sounds of the world around you.

#3 Scavenger Hunt Improv!

Run around looking for random objects, meeting random people, doing random things.

#2 Murder Mystery Improv!

Play characters and try to solve a mystery without knowing who did it, or any of your lines.

#1 Karaoke Improv!

Sing popular songs together, knowing nobody’s judging the quality of your voice, they’re just there to have a good time.

If you’re thinking of trying any of these team building activities, reach out to us and we’ll help make it happen, as long as it’s improv.  

Top 3 Reasons to Choose Improv for your next Team Building Event

#1: Improv is Fun(ny)!

At this point, if you’re doing a team building event, it’s pretty much expected to be fun. But improv goes beyond fun, it’s funny. Sure, there might be funny moments in other events, like getting stuck halfway up a rock climbing wall, or a paintball to the butt, but improv is designed to bring laughs. And the best part is, the team are the ones creating the laughs, together.

#2: Improv is Fun for Everyone!

There are always going to be shy people who want to hang back, and boisterous leaders who want to take control. The funny ones, and people who don’t realize how funny they are. The thing with improv is that everyone participates. And everyone succeeds. Because when you’re building comedy together, the laughs are shared.

#3: Improv is a Key Skill!

No matter how much we plan, every interaction we have is improvised. So it’s a pretty helpful skill to hone. Amidst all the laughing and having fun together, your team is learning how to support and collaborate, think on their feet, stretch their comfort zones, and adapt to change in the moment. Think escape room, but the room keeps changing, and nobody’s yelling.

If you’re looking for a fun and funny team building workshop, where everyone enjoys being involved, and learns keys skills, check out our corporate improv workshops or get in touch and we’ll build the event for you.

Winner of Toronto’s Best Improv Team Building Workshops Award

Play with Fire Improv was recently awarded Toronto’s Best Improv Team Building Workshops Award, or TBITBWA, or “T-bit-bwah” as some call it, and Cam Algie (founder and lead facilitator of Play with Fire Improv) couldn’t be happier.

“Yeah, I was honoured to hear the news that we’d won,” says Cam, “it’s obviously something we’ve work hard to be great at, and while getting amazing feedback from our clients is award enough, receiving an actual award is also nice.”

According to the judging committee, they were the clear favourite. “They definitely deserve the prestigious award, they truly care about their clients, and run amazing customized workshops for teams of all kinds. I’m proud of them and happy they won, and it wasn’t even a biased choice,” said head judge, Cam Algie.

If you’re interested in some award-winning improv training for your team, check out Play with Fire Improv’s corporate improv training page, or contact them to make it happen.

Definitely an esteemed improv award and not a softball trophy.