In this episode of the podcast, Tom Yorton, CEO of SecondCity Works, Chicago’s world renown improv theater whose alumni include Steven Colbert, Tina Fey and many other high profile comedians talks about what the world of improv can teach us about creation, communication and collaboration. 

Finding different ways to connect with an audience

The role that music played in Tom’s career 

Redeveloping curiosity and tolerance for risk

Why the resume building approach to education hurts kids

Developing adaptive skills and becoming an agile learner

Finding the through line of your career 

Using humor as a way to get to the truth 

Applying the improviser’s tool kit to your work 

Key concepts from improv that allow you to communicate, create and collaborate more effectively 

Life is a series of happy accidents if you want to look it that way. 

Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses “No, But” Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration–Lessons from The Second City

3 Improv Exercises That Can Change The Way Your Team Works

As CEO of Second City Communications, Tom Yorton is creating a positive, disruptive force that changes how people communicate, collaborate and learn in the business world. His work is guided by a fundamental assumption: Business is an act of improvisation. Through comedy, his organization brings sorely needed humanity and authenticity to work environments by challenging unproductive conventions in marketing, learning, business development, and internal communications.