Communication

Listen Better

If you want to be a better communicator, start by being a better listener. WIT@Work workshops can help your team become better at hearing the full message – not just the words, but the full content of what colleagues and clients are conveying. Improv principles and exercises help participants learn to be more fully present and engaged listeners. That includes using these skills in high stakes, high stress environments, where they’re needed most.

Communicate Effectively, Off-the-Cuff, in a High Pressure and High Stakes Environment

WIT@Work’s improv-based workshops help participants communicate in the real-world situations that matter (and flummox communicators) the most. Odds are, you spend most of your work day speaking without a script. You and your team are already improvising every day, and WIT@Work can help you be great improvisers.

Presence, Authenticity, and Storytelling

WIT@Work workshops helps lift the skills and tools that actors draw on for the stage and take them into the boardroom, the courtroom, and wherever effective communication is vital. Participants learn to speak more openly and authentically, and to harness the power of storytelling and narrative to shape and strengthen their message.

Rehearse for Success

We can work with you to design trainings that let your client-facing team members rehearse and refine how they engage with your clients.

Experience Matters!

Washington Improv Theater is one of the largest improv training centers in the United States and has been leading applied improv training for 15 years. WIT@Work has a phenomenal team of trainers, and our WIT@Work Director holds a Ph.D, and has over a decade of experience designing, delivering, and overseeing professional trainings.

​People were especially impressed with the substantive background WIT@Work brought to discussions about communication and decision making.”

—WIT@Work client in the legal sector

Law

Communication is a core component of legal work in the courtroom, with clients, and within legal teams.With that in mind, we have worked with a wide range of law firms (e.g. McDermott Will & Emery; Kelly Drye & Warren), with every level legal professional, from partners working to generate new business, to mid-level associates working on career advancement and cross-firm collaboration, to summer associates having a compelling and engaging first connecting with the firm.

Marketing and Public Relations

We regularly work with marketing PR firms, both to build and expand their own communication skills, as well as to give them new tools and exercises to assist them in preparing their clients. Clients include Burness Communications, Ogilvy, M+R, Dogfish Head Brewery

Scientists and Technical Professionals

Improv is increasingly being used to help scientists and technical professionals effectively reach out to and engage wider, lay audiences. WIT@Work clients include the Koshland Science Museum and the National Institutes of Health. And at a personal level we get the deep value of helping technical experts, researchers, and academics communicate effectively–two of our WIT@Work trainers hold Ph.D.s

Education & Academia

Communication is a core-competency across the disciplines and throughout the educational experience. Toward that, WIT@Work has designed and led applied improv workshops for college groups ranging from large incoming freshman classes to graduate MBA cohorts. We also have regularly led classes in teacher (k-12) and university faculty development. Our clients have included George Washington University, George Mason University, and Sidwell Friends.

Why Improv Training is Great Business Training (Forbes)

What happens when you give scientists comedy improv lessons (via PRI)

Improv for Scientists: Alan Alda Teaches Better Communication (via Today.com)