World’s Worst Write-Up
Overview
Improv games are activities adapted from improvisational theater. In these activities, the actors do not use a script but create the dialogue and action as they perform.
We have been using improv games as an instructional tool for several years. One of our favorite improv games is WORLD'S WORST which involves participants acting out comical blunders of people in client engagement and business development situations. But, in the end, WORLD'S WORST is nothing more than a role play activity.
Purpose
To identify effective behaviors associated with the training topic.
Time
15 - 20 minutes plus 10 - 30 minutes for debriefing
Active Participants
Minimum: 4
Maximum: 8
Best: 5
Audience Players
Any number.
Supplies
A doormat or a piece of carpet placed in front of the room. This serves as the "platform".
Flow
Invite participants. Explain that you need a few willing volunteers for an improv theater activity. Point out that the activity will be a lot of fun. Since this is a theatrical activity, we will call our participants, “actors.”
Get another volunteer to scribe. Ask someone from the audience to position themselves next to a flip chart. For every response from an actor, ask the scribe to jot it down. If needed the scribe can link the responses by topic.
Position the actors. Ask them to stand behind the platform, facing the audience.
Brief the actors. Explain that they are from another universe working for an organization similar to their own organization… but not as good, or the same. Volunteers will be given a situation.
For example, perhaps a series of objections from prospective clients.
Their job will be to offer the worst possible response to this scenario. Any actor who is ready to portray the blundering behavior of a person in this situation should step on the platform and act it out. This portrayal should be brief and comical. Actors don't have to take turns, but whoever feels ready to step on the platform should do so. After all actors have portrayed this situation, you will call out for another situation. Actors will repeat the same procedure. You will continue the game until you have explored a wide variety of situations.
After the brief, begin and describe the first situation. Turn to the remaining people in the room and ask them for a typical or difficult situation given the topic.
In our above example or objections from prospective clients, as the audience for a tough one they hear most often.
Take one of the audience offers and repeat it as the stimulus for the actors. Remind the actors that anyone who wants to act out the behavior of the world's worst job holder in this situation should step on the platform.
Model if necessary. After a reasonable time, if no actor steps on the platform, you do it. Demonstrate a suitable (but not too brilliant) portrayal. Then wait for the other actors to do their stuff. Applaud each portrayal.
Be sure the scribe is capturing the responses on the flipchart.
Move on to the next situation. Get another stimulus from the audience. (We usually prepare a list of situations in case none come from the audience.) Wait for the actors to do their portrayals.
Continue the activity. Again, get new and different situations. Try to cover a variety of normal and unusual scenarios. Change up the actors if you want, or they want.
Conclude the activity. Stop the drama when you feel that you have covered a sufficiently diverse set of situations. Thank the actors and lead a round of applause.
Debrief the activity. This critical component is what converts a fun activity into an instructional exercise. Ask participants to brainstorm a list of Dos and Don'ts based on the earlier portrayals. Use the information on the flipchart(s) as a basis for converting to positive principles and behaviors.