How to Measure “Soft Skills” in Improv Training: Increased Confidence

Building Boldness with Improv

Let’s say your goal is to increase your team’s confidence, so you book them for some training. After the training, how do you know they’re now more confident? The obvious answer would be, well, are they acting more confident? So let’s define what that means.

It’s most likely not going to be a complete transformation. Like, if they never used to speak up in meetings at all, I doubt they’ll suddenly present their ideas through interpretive song and dance. Think of behavioural change more in terms of a sliding scale. And you can gauge an increase in confidence by having one simple measurement to compare against: Fear.

On one end of the scale, you have anxiety (stress, burnout, overwhelm) and on the other end we have confidence (with a couple stops along the way).

So, to measure the success of the workshop, you need to know where you’re starting from. How scared are they to do things right now, and how much less scared are they to do those things after the workshop? The goal being to slide up the scale.

When it comes to “acting” more confident, here’s an example of how their actions could look along The Confidence Scale™:

Again, it’s a sliding scale. Sometimes they might act courageous, but under pressure switch to panic and yell, or shut down completely. No judgement, we all feel it. Improv For Confidence™ workshops are just about sliding a little further on the scale (not judging people for where they are now).

Here’s an example of how to gauge their current confidence when it comes to a key leadership skill:

Unfortunately, many people get stuck at the insecurity stage, and make fear-based decisions (what they think the client would want, what they think would stay within budget, what would be safest, least likely to get them in trouble, etc.) but try to make themselves and others believe they’re confident.

This might not be the most scientific as far as a direct measuring tool, but you can often tell when decisions are made out of fear/insecurity and when they’re courageous/confident. And while fear can help motivate a decision, it’s not always the best one.

What to look for during the next brainstorming session:

You’ll know there’s an increase in confidence by the amount of “Yeses” versus “No’s.” The voice of reason, devil’s advocate, whatever you want to call it, is in reality, just fear talking. You want people with the courage to explore ideas, not shoot them down before they start.

In short, here’s how you measure success when training the “soft skill” of confidence.

1. Get a sense of where they are now on The Confidence Scale™.

2. Do an Improv For Confidence™ workshop (or a few).

3. Mark where they are after.

Our goal is to move them further along the scale. To change their belief in themselves, so they call the shots more than letting fear lead the way.

Improv will help you build a more confident team. Which, as you already suspect (enough to be looking into confidence training), and will soon see, is definitely a good thing.

The Top Workplace Team Building Activity for 2026 (a totally unbiased opinion)

Improv.

Thanks for reading!

100 Ways to Play at Work #28: The Floor Lines Are Lava

A bit of a combo game here, mainly because going full “floor is lava” would probably get you a little too much attention at work. So we’re combining it with a mix of “step on a crack,” and “the way some baseball pitchers skip over the foul line as they’re coming off the field as some sort of superstition.”

In short, when you walk about, don’t touch any lines on the floor. That’s the game. Simple rules. If you do touch a line, obviously you’re the reason the Blue Jays lost, and you should be very mad at yourself. (Yes, I’m still thinking about it.)

Bonus challenge: Use this as impetus to go for more walks, instead of a reason to avoid them. Go for the win!

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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.

100 Ways to Play at Work #27: Rename Stuff

When you look at a table, your mind automatically labels it, “That’s a table.” But is it? Yes. But is that the best and only name for that object? Break out of that unconscious thinking, and see it for what it really is… a higher floor. “Pick that stuff off the dirty floor, and put in on the higher, cleaner floor,” you’d say. And a countertop? What’s with that? It doesn’t even count numbers, let alone be the top at it. It’s basically another floor. A food floor. Or “foofloo.” And a floor? That’s clearly a “blorg.”

What’s the first thing you’re renaming?

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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.

Fearless Presentations: Learn to actually enjoy public speaking.

Most public speaking classes are designed to help you do it better. Which, I guess, makes sense. The logic being, if you can get good enough at presenting, you’ll never make a mistake, which is a big part of the fear. Public embarrassment. But to me, that’s like being afraid of snakes, and only learning how to avoid snakes. It’s all good, until there’s a snake.

From my experience, it doesn’t matter if you tell me how to hold my hands properly, inflect the right words, and structure the ideal pitch, if as soon as I get up there, I panic and blank on everything.

What you actually need is to practice being bad at presenting. Practice blanking, and recovering from blanking. Practice panicking, and how to handle it and keep going. Instead of learning to be perfect, which is in reality just a way of avoiding failure, practice failing!

And this doesn’t just apply to public speaking, but all of life. But for the sake of this workshop description, it’s about public speaking.

If you, or anyone on your staff is a nervous presenter, reach out to us and book a Fearless Presentations workshop.

Through a series of improv games and exercises, we’ll get them thinking on their feet and more able to go “off script,” caring about their audience and communicating an idea more than focusing on how “well” they’re presenting, and overall find their voice and style and actually learn to enjoy sharing and connecting with others.

Don’t let your fear of public speaking hold you back in your career. You can overcome it, it just takes work. And by work, I mean doing improv games and a lot of laughing.

100 Ways to Play at Work #26: Remember your Mantra

Another great character POV game. Go about your normal workings, but keep your mantra in mind, and see how it changes the way you do things. If your mantra is “Just be” then you might remember to stay zen during those tense moments. If your mantra is “This is my time” then you might feel inspired to greatness, or not tolerate useless meetings. Or maybe your mantra is “Can we please go one second without talking about AI?!”

What’s your mantra going to be today?

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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.

100 Ways to Play at Work #25: Talk to Stuff

There was a thread (Reddit?) about adding whimsy to our lives, and one woman said she says “May I take your coats” when peeling garlic. So, that type of stuff. And do their voices if the objects respond. And if people look at you weird, maybe they’re weird for not being playful. Also, your superpower might be the ability to talk to inanimate objects, they don’t know.

What are you going to talk to first?

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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.

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.

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. 

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!

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.  

100 Ways to Play at Work #18: Props

In improv, you can take any object and use your imagination to make it something else. ​F​or example, a pen ​can be a moustache, a cigar, an alien antennae, a giant tower in a miniature world.

In real life, you can ​g​o beyond imagination and actually use things for more than their intended purpose. ​There’s the obvious, coffee mug that hold​s pens (mini towers), or paper clips (mini racetracks). ​But go further. Your rolly chair is a vehicle. Your desk a dance floor. Use your tie as a belt. Use your belt as a tie. Use your post-it notes as a dress.

You just gotta think to yourself, what else can this​ thing ​b​e or ​d​o?

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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.

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.

100 Ways to Play at Work #17: Rhyme Time!

As usual, strike up that “normal” conversation. This time the game is: whatever word they end with, make sure your last word rhymes with it.

Bonus points if your sentence is roughly the same number of syllables. You can even keep a beat going in your head. This is great practice if you ever find yourself performing on an A cappella musical improv team (shout out to JerJosh & the SteveCams).

Eg.

Hey Heather, check this AI thing out!
Oh amazing, what’s it all about?
Well, it’s some art I’ve been working on, you know, on the side.
You should share it around, that’s not something to hide.

(Full disclosure, the art wasn’t great, but in the moment Heather couldn’t think of a different rhyme.)

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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.

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.

100 Ways to Play at Work #16: Make Art

Don’t just staple pages together, staple a little picture. Make a flip book out of post-it notes. Bend paperclips into animals. Use highlighters as watercolour.

Take 10 minutes to just create… something. Go over to the photocopy room right now, grab some paper scraps, tape, markers and make your (daily? weekly?) masterpiece to display at your desk, or on the office fridge.  

It’s not about selling the art, or doing a good job, it’s simply enjoying the act of creating something new.

What will you art today?

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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.

100 Ways to Play at Work #15: Play Bingo!

Another boring meeting? Doesn’t have to be, because you’ve created your bingo card. Draw a 5x5 grid of boxes. Then fill in your “favourite” potential meeting moments.

Some examples include:

• There are tech issues

• Someone says “Touch base”/“Let’s circle back to that”/“Out of pocket”​ 

• Someone interrupts to ask “Are you done with the room?”

• AI gets mentioned (maybe use as the guaranteed spot in the middle)

• Someone comes late and apologizes, then leaves early and apologizes

• Someone says “This could’ve been an email” then raises their hand for a high five but there are no takers so they high five themselves and say “Noice!”

• ​The meeting runs late

And when you get 5 in a row, let them know by yelling "Bingo!" that this was officially a meeting.   

100 Ways to Play at Work #14: Make up your own Saying.

Coming up with a new old timey saying is like putting dry boots on a wet goat. It’s hard. Or easy? I don’t know. But when you finally achieve it, it’s like finding a grape in your figgy pudding. You know you’ve tucked your shadow in for the night, and you can celebrate like tigers on a picket fence!

Share your new saying. Because as they say, the fastest mouse isn’t always the loudest.

100 Ways to Play at Work #13: Hype Team

Just as it sounds, find someone and be their “hype” person. Support what they say. Root for them. Build up their ideas.

Here’s the key, there’s gotta be something genuine at the core, or it’ll start to seem sarcastic. It’s just pushing the positive that’s already there. If you like their idea even a bit, go full love it!

Who are you gonna make feel great today?

100 Ways to Play at Work #12: Alliterating All Along

Pick a letter, any letter. Try to use it as much as you can. Done. A simple challenge to give convos a sense of play. Bonus points for any sentence where every word begins with the same letter. Extra bonus points if nobody notices, or thinks it happened accidentally.

“You got those budget reports ready?”
“Why, what a wonderful way of wording your wishes!”
“…Just give me the numbers.”