Get thrown off when the unexpected happens? Try this improv exercise...

“Coulda said!”

After someone says something, anyone else can say “coulda said!” and the first person has to come up with a new and alternate thing to say.

For example:

Steven: I need those reports by Friday.

Rachel: Coulda said!

Steven: I want those reports by Friday.

Rachel: Coulda said!

Steven: I like your new hat.

Rachel: Awww, thank you!

It’s an opportunity to practice saying things off the cuff. We often get so hung up on building the perfect thing to say in our heads, that when told to say something else, it can throw us off. Good. Make this a gentle and playful part of your culture, so you get to practice failure in a safe space.

100 Ways to Play at Work #31: Give Yourself a Nickname

Sure, historically speaking, nicknames are usually bestowed upon their recipients. My nickname when I worked at the health food store was “Gramps.” And this was in my early 20’s. In my defense, I was anxious and hated myself and others. Especially those dang kids on my lawn. (You know this is a joke because I said “lawn” and I live in Toronto.)

This is your chance to get ahead of the game. Sign off some emails with a bonus “middle” name in quotes. Drop some third person references in conversation like “Tiger agrees” while pointing to yourself. Or simply hire an actor to call you your nickname loudly throughout the day.  

You don’t need to sell everyone, just get one person hooked. Most people call me plain ole Cam, or Cameron, or Cam-Bam 3000, but I’ve also planted the seeds of some weird ones.

Way to Play #32 —>

<— Way to Play #30

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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.