Help your teaching colleague better

Have a question about teaching improv? A great place to get answers to your questions are Facebook groups. Full of people with experience and with answers.

But I think some of us, especially experienced teachers can be of better help in there. Let me explain how...

If your niece asks you with a shaking voice whether there is a monster under her bed, do you say: “No there is not. Goodnight”? Maybe you do, if you are the tough love kind of aunt/uncle. But many of us recognize that this question is actually saying “I am feeling afraid and I hope that your answer will make me feel better”

Let’s imagine a Facebook group where beginning improv teacher Robin asks: “Should I be stricter with students coming in late?”.

A first response might be: “Eh yes, obviously.” There. Solved. Back to scrolling the timeline.

But how about we try to think of the feeling that is behind Robin’s question. It could be a feeling of: ‘I am nervous about being strict, because I am new and I want them to like me’. Basically Robin might feel that they are not good enough.

What happens when you then respond to their question with: “Eh yes, obviously.”? It communicates that there is only 1 correct answer (that Robin didn’t know) and that it is obvious. You might think you helped them with giving the right answer.

However, this will confirm Robin’s fear of not being good as a teacher. The nervousness just got a bit more fuel. And instead of closer to the solution, Robin got a little further.

In the online space I see this type of responses a lot. They are confident, firm and show that the answer is obvious. But I also think these answers lack understanding, nuance and compassion. (All of which should be qualities of an improv teacher, if you ask me.)

I think many improvisers -especially those with experience and confidence- can lead a bit more from compassion. When you hear someone ask a question, don’t jump to the ‘let me throw the answer at you’. Relate first to the: ‘I hear you have a question and I recognise that you probably feel something.’

Wait, before you go all ‘BARRRRF’ after hearing that sentence… You don’t have to say this, but think it. Think which feeling might be behind this question. And relate to that first. Then share your experience as an example, not as the only truth.

Beginning improv teacher Robin asks: “Should I be stricter with students coming in late?”.

How would it sounds like if someone would respond with: “That is never easy to do. Over the years I learned to be flexible for the first time and open up a 1-on-1 conversation after the 2nd time. That usually works well.”

Sounds nice to you? Maybe. I hope so! But maybe not. This type of answer might not be your style. Maybe you actually are the type for: ‘Listen kid, there are no monsters. Further questions?’.

But I believe that listening to the question behind the question can often help your colleague more than offering a clear-cut answer. Leading with compassion will make us better colleagues, better teachers and better monster-defeaters.