September 24, 2025

This week, Women L.E.A.D. stepped out of the usual rhythm of speeches and evaluations and into something a little more playful: improv. Guided by Elaine Lung, a dynamic speaking coach, we explored how improvisation can transform the way we show up as speakers and leaders.

Elaine opened with two stories from her career in Silicon Valley. In the first, she was invited by her VP of HR to evaluate the CEO during a board presentation. The request came after she won her Toastmasters club evaluation contest, but the opportunity felt overwhelming. Fear took over, and she declined. Fast forward five years: now an IT project manager, she volunteered to face a room of frustrated executive assistants who were unhappy with her team’s technology support. Standing in the “lion’s den,” she filled three flip chart pages with their concerns and won their trust by listening, validating, and showing up authentically. The difference between fear and confidence, Elaine shared, was improv.

Taking classes at Comedy Sports San Jose, Elaine learned to think on her feet and discovered that improv was not about being funny. It was about embracing a set of principles that make communication authentic and collaborative:

• Say “Yes, and…” Accept what is offered, acknowledge it, and build on it. “Yes, and” turns conflict into collaboration.
• Listen deeply. Do not wait for your turn to talk, really hear what others are saying so you can connect and respond with intention.
• Make your partner look good. As improv pioneer Del Close said: “Treat others around you like geniuses and poets, and you will be surrounded by geniuses and poets.”
• Fail forward. As Kevin Burke put it: “The willingness to be horrible is the price we pay to be amazing.” Growth requires risk and a learner’s mindset.

The workshop came alive through playful exercises. In the party planning game, members practiced the difference between “Yes, but…” (shutting ideas down) and “Yes, and…” (building on them). From dream budgets for Taylor Swift concerts to creative gift bags, the room buzzed with blue sky thinking. The product design challenge invited members to design a toaster and then a couch, each time adding features like golden finishes, Toastmasters engravings, and even sandwich matching abilities. In each round, participants practiced complimenting others’ contributions — “What I like about that is…” — before adding their own ideas.

We closed with the one word at a time proverb exercise, where members crafted short, wise sayings like “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” The activity showed how collective wisdom emerges when everyone contributes a piece.

Elaine’s closing reminder was simple but powerful: failing forward means carrying lessons from mistakes into the next attempt. Just like improv, public speaking is about being present, willing to take risks, and trusting that the scene will unfold.

We hope to see you at our next workshop or meeting!