Yes it can! And...
Improv for Coaches?
When you think of improv, your mind might drift to a spotlighted stage, an eager audience, or a group of comedians riffing off each other’s lines. But what if the skills that make improv performers quick witted and captivating can also transform your coaching sessions? Turns out, the core principles of improv—like active listening, adaptability, and “yes, and…”—mesh seamlessly with coaching fundamentals.
According to the International Coaching Federation’s The Art of Coaching Improvisationally and Learn Improvisation Skills, an improvisational mindset enables coaches to engage more deeply, react more fluidly, and empower clients to explore uncharted territory. Intrigued? join us with CLCI Live while Live Jen Long (PCC), Anthony Lopez (MCPC), Brooke Adair Walters (ACC), Jerome LeDuff (MCLC), and Lisa Finck (MCC) test out our acting chops, play some improv games, and figure out the relation between improv and coaching.
Why Improv Belongs in Coaching
Cultivating improvisational skills can help coaches remain flexible, creative, and confident in the face of the unexpected. In fact, we recommend taking an actual improv class or workshop as a practical way to hone quick-thinking and active listening. By intentionally practicing scenarios where there's no “correct” answer, you train your coaching mindset to stay curious, open, and ready to adapt—no matter what a client brings to the session. Here are some ways that improv crosses over to coaching:
Active Listening: Improv demands you listen not just for words, but for underlying emotions and context. In coaching, this means picking up on subtle shifts in tone or body language that can lead to deeper insights. This also means to directly respond to what is being said to you, rather than being stuck in your own head.
Flexibility & Adaptability: A coach can’t always script a session. Like an improv actor responding to a scene partner, you must adapt in the moment to guide the client toward new perspectives, or to respond to goals or blocks that may shift a session.
Non-Judgmental Collaboration: The “yes, and…” principle fosters trust, encourages open exploration, and refrains from shutting down ideas before they’re fully considered.
Building Rapport: Improv is about co-creating a narrative. In coaching, this sense of co-creation develops strong rapport, where the client feels safe to share, brainstorm, and refine their story.
Core Improv Principles (and Their Coaching Parallels)
“Yes, and…”
What It Is: In improv, you accept your partner’s reality (“Yes!”) and add something new (“and…”). For example, if your scene partner says, “Wow, I can't believe it took us only 3 days to get to Mars!” you avoid contradicting them— instead, you build on the scenario.
Coaching Translation: Instead of dismissing or correcting a client’s statement (no matter how ludicrous), meet them where they are, then expand on their perspective.
Example: “Yes, you’re feeling stuck in your career, and what does this feeling mean? What could it mean?
Listen to Understand, Not to Respond
What It Is: Improv performers tune in to every nuance—tone, facial expression, word choice—so they can respond organically rather than force a pre-written joke or line.
Coaching Translation: Coaches who truly listen tend to ask more relevant, meaningful questions, making the client feel heard and supported.
Embrace the Unknown
What It Is: Improv thrives on spontaneity. Performers jump headfirst into scenes without a script, trusting that collaboration and creativity will keep the story afloat.
Coaching Translation: A rigid, scripted coaching session can stifle breakthroughs. Clients don't just show up to play their predefined roles, they explore, define goals, and work creatively to see them through. Why stifle that creation?
Make Your Partner Look Good
What It Is: Improv is about elevating your scene partner—spotlighting their strengths, reinforcing their ideas—so the entire scene succeeds.
Coaching Translation: As a coach, your “scene partner” is the client. Empower them by taking notice their wins, exploring their potential, and letting them see themselves as the problem solver.
Implementing Improv in Real Coaching Sessions
Think of every coaching session as an improvisational act, that is guided by a flexible yet supportive framework.
Our intent is to create a safe, playful atmosphere where curiosity thrives and you’re ready to pivot whenever something unexpected arises. It can be as simple as mentally adopting “yes, and…” as you honor the client’s perspective while gently expanding it.
We also want to encourage the client to join us in spontaneous exploration (it through on-the-fly brainstorming or mini exercises) so they can break free from rigid thought patterns. Finally, after each session, reflect on the moments when you improvised effectively, and note where you might deepen that spontaneity next time. These small shifts in mindset ensures that we as coaches can remain agile embrace discoveries as they unfold.
A Musical Take on Improv
A less theatrical (but equally powerful) lens for understanding improvisation comes from music—especially jazz. In a jazz ensemble, each musician listens intently to the others, spontaneously responding to rhythm changes or melodic cues. There’s no rigid script; the piece evolves through collaborative give-and-take. Much like in a coaching session, you won’t know exactly where the next measure will take you, but you stay open, adapt, and build on what your ‘bandmates’ (in this case, your clients) provide.
Treat your client conversations like musical jam sessions: you bring a foundational structure (your coaching framework), but within that, you stay nimble. Pay attention to subtle shifts in the client’s energy or topic. Offer thoughtful ‘riffs’ (questions or reflections) that harmonize with the client’s current state while nudging them toward new insights. This doesn’t mean every session has to be a jam session, but it does mean letting curiosity and creativity infuse your coaching coaching sessions.
All in all, improv isn't just theatrics, comedic timing, or musical genius. It’s a toolset of collaboration, active listening, and flexible thinking—all crucial elements of powerful coaching. By weaving “yes, and…” into your dialogue, you invite clients to explore uncharted territories in a supportive, imaginative way. And by staying ready for anything, you create the space for authentic, game-changing breakthroughs.
So the next time you feel tempted to cling to a coaching script, remember: some of the best discoveries happen when you dare to improvise.
Thank you,
Jen Long (PCC), Anthony Lopez (MCPC), Brooke Adair Walters (ACC), Jerome LeDuff (MCLC), and Lisa Finck (MCC)
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