When workshops go beautifully off-script

As facilitators (and more generally, human beings), we tend to judge our work on how much it goes to plan.

Running an improv workshop on Saturday, I had a simple exercise mapped out that I thought of as I was driving to the venue. Its main function was to randomly put people in pairs: famous two-word band names (Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac) split onto separate pieces of paper. Everyone picks one at random, shouts out their word and finds their partner. Easy. And more interesting than just numbering people or allowing them to find a partner.

But one participant misunderstood. He thought they had to mime their words.

He started apologising immediately whereas I was absolutely delighted. Because what followed was so much better than my plan – people taking turns acting out "Rolling" or "Stones" or "Mac," then their partner spotting them and embracing them. It was a beautiful bit of organic improv that I never would’ve thought of.

This moment was a good reminder that when things go differently to planned, it can lead to amazing results. You can plan it as carefully as possible but often the magic comes from what you didn't plan. This is why I'm a firm believer in working with what you have in the room and getting ideas from the participants. That's where the good stuff happens.

Name the song...