EP 404 - Can improv and humour make you a better leader - and even grow your bottom line?

Neil Mullarkey (Comedy Store Players co-founder with Mike Myers, seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway and Austin Powers) shows how improv’s “Yes, And” mindset, listening with intent, and affiliative humour boost leadership, sales, creativity, and team culture.

We unpack practical tools Neil teaches at London Business School and in boardrooms across 25+ countries: running better meetings and Zooms, building psychological safety, using Pixar-style “plussing,” navigating change, and why funny people make better leaders.

What you’ll learn:

How improv drives creativity, collaboration, and faster decisions

The difference between affiliative vs. dis-affiliative humour (and why banter can backfire)

Listening with intent: the leadership meta-skill that wins deals and trust

Running high-energy meetings (in-person & remote): chat prompts, quick polls, and participation hacks

Why “Yes, And” beats rigid scripts for sales, client work, and stakeholder buy-in

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 BWB with Neil Mullarkey

01:20 Neil's Journey in Comedy and Improv

05:42 The Birth of Comedy Store Players

08:12 Improv Techniques and Their Applications

19:13 Improv in Business and Leadership

24:05 Effective Meeting Strategies

32:31 Innovative Meeting Strategies

33:35 The Role of Improv in Leadership

36:07 Handling Resistance and Transformation

41:45 Humour in the Workplace

47:32 Improv Skills for Personal Growth

56:27 Quickfire - Get To Know Neil

57:54 !Business or Bullshit Quiz!

businesswithoutbullshit.me

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If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]