Welcome to Leif’s Inspiration and Empowerment Center. 

Leifs Inspiration & Empowerment Center has worked with most of the schools through out Brooklyn and Manhattan. Come and find out how our wonderful SEL programs have Empowered and helped made schools more enjoyable for their students.

The Inspiration and Empowerment center is a dedicated school for the learning and teaching “The Art of Possibilities”. The center focuses on personal growth in all areas of life, professional and personal. Working with you to overcome the obstacles  that stop you from being your true most powerful self.

Our center is open to all Private and Public Schools (DOE VENDOR) Individuals, groups, teams, and businesses seeking a more productive, creative, supportive, and successful, self, workplace and environment. 

Our programs include:

• Private Coaching
• After School Programs
• Summer Camp Programs
• In School Residency
• Drama Middle and High School Test Preparation
• Adult Improv Therapy

We work with you offering a “toolbox” to keep you focused on your goals, as team player and a leader. 

You will become inspired, confident, productive, and creative.  You will not only have a happier and healthier environment to be around, but a place to really enjoy and see your full potential realized.

“Improvisation draws on time-honored principles. They must be present in the moment, listening carefully, and contributing freely. These skills turn out to be particularly useful in workplaces that rely on adaptability … Studies have shown that people can improve their communication skills and lower their anxiety with regular practice. Improv’s low-stakes training increases the likelihood that team members will feel comfortable communicating in a variety of work situations.  Forbes Article, “Why Improvisation Empowerment training is Great Business training.”

Leif’s Inspiration and Empowerment center uses some of the most important modules that help schools/companies focus on competencies relevant to business:

Building your team, and collaborating. Presentation skills. Dynamic, and effective communication. Being responsible, and taking initiative. Thinking quickly on your feet, especially in highly stressed situations or when there is a deadline.    

Why Attend an Improv. Workshop?  Sharpened Leadership Skills. Build Strong Ensembles / Teams. Inspire, Empower, and Stimulate Your Creativity. Have Fun in the workplace. Improvisation gives you a better understanding of that view of life.

The skills you learn in an Improv. Workshop will be applied to all parts of your life. Many vocations use Improvisation as a means to learn other things.  It helps provide building blocks for business success. It also teaches you to be in the moment. In the moment is where opportunity/possibilities shows up. You learn to contribute to the ideas of others, creating new possibilities. This often leads to amazing results, and empowers the ensemble/team. 

In this highly competitive world we live in, you have to be more flexible, cutting edge, and diversified, in order to stay on top.

Why Schools & Business Owners and Employees should study Improv? “Entrepreneurs Must Skillfully perform on Two Stages, Not Forfeiting Home for Company”.

Keep your Students / employees connected, and engaged.  Improve, Inspire, and empower their overall wellness in the workplace. 

Below are a few of the Empowering workshops we offer. We can also combine and customize one for your School, individual, or company needs.

Leifs Inspiration & Empowerment Center has worked with most of the schools through out Brooklyn and Manhattan

Collaborated Brainstorming Improv.

Stimulate and Empower your ability to think outside the norm, and get new creative ideas flowing. Using Improv. Techniques in a fun safe environment, you will discover numerous ways to:

• Communicate and Debate Successfully              
• Clarify what you need to accomplish or achieve

             3) Accept and Build on others’ ideas

             4) Change plans or directions with ease

             5) See Mistakes as (wonderful accidents)                   

Speaking / Communicating Improv.

Build and Empower your confidence, when speaking live, or on TV/Camera. Using Improv. Techniques and exercises in a fun, safe environment, you can explore various ways to:

               1) Command the Attention and Empower an Audience

               2) Relax and Calm nerves

               3) Be present in the Moment

               4) Empower your spontaneity skills

               5) Communicate your message/idea clearly and successfully                                        

Sales Pitching Improv.

Fully understand and own your sales pitch so you can go off script and Improvise when needed. Using Improv. Techniques and exercises in a fun, creative, environment, you can explore numerous ways to:

1) Communicate and execute more successfully.               

2) Accepting and building on what’s being offered. 

3) Always be closing / and close more deals.

4) Increase listening and observation skills.

5) Change directions with ease.              

Ensemble / Team Building Improv.

Empower and inspire a stronger more productive ensemble/team by increasing comradely, and trust. Help alleviate stress. Using Improv. Techniques and exercise in a relaxed, fun and safe environment, you will explore various ways to: 

1) Collaborate more productively and effectively.

2) Accept and contribute in others’ ideas.

 3) Debate and communicate more successfully 

                          4) Build stronger ensemble / team relationships

                          5) See mistakes as wonderful accidents, and opportunities

1.Sharpen Leadership Skills.  An amazing thing I’ve learned after presenting Improv. Workshops for more than ten years are this:  There is no such thing as a weak Improv. Player.  There are only skilled Improv. Players who are not skilled enough to make the weaker players look good. When a worker has substandard performance, the question is: Are YOU good enough to lead, motivate, and work with them? Be responsible? Make them look good?  Bring out their best? This is a reality of life.  The responsibility and power lies with you.  Lead by example. What would the world be like if everyone was present for you, if everyone listened to you, if everyone treated you like a genius, if everyone agreed with you, if everyone trusted you.  What would it be like if each of your employees experienced that kind of world. It’s your job to be the “someone” who creates that experience for them.  Every choice you make affects other people.

2.Build Strong Ensembles/Teams.   You’ll learn strong skills in agreement and consensus. The Improv. Principle of YES AND teaches you to agree with others and to add to that agreement.  You will also understand that YES does not mean you agree, it simply means that you hear the other person. It moves you forward. BUT and NO is an eraser and stops forward progress. You learn to treat others as though they were a genius.  You develop the habit of going with the flow and trusting the group.  Learn to say yes to at least one stupid idea a week. That, of course, is an impossible challenge. There is no such thing as a stupid idea. Improv. Games are also great for mixers. and motivating the workplace. 

3.Build Your Confidence. In life, the prize often goes not to the fast but to the bold.  Not to the quick but to the confident.  Improv training boosts your confidence. Whenever you are personally challenged, it builds your confidence. You become a better risk taker. You learn to fail gracefully. It gives you confidence. And confidence enhances your performance and competence in the eyes of others.

4.Develop Listening skills.  Listening is more than hearing. Listening is also watching. Listening is understanding body language, gestures, facial expressions, and the tone of voice. Communication is more than facts. Communication is watching for feelings and intention. Improv teaches you all that, and how you can contribute by NOT saying something.

5.Inspire, Empower, and Stimulate Your Creativity. Creativity is sometimes the result of talent, accident, or the product of self-confidence.  Improv training can help in you in all areas. Improv teaches you to be open to possibilities and see the alternatives. You become less rigid and more flexible.  You learn to contribute to the ideas of others, creating new possibilities. This often leads to amazing results, and empowers the ensemble. Improv gives you a better understanding of that view of life.

6.Have Fun in the School/ workplace.  A School/ workplace with no play is usually rigid and inflexible. Improv. teaches you to play.  Use it to start the day playing a game with your ensemble/team. Use Improvisation games to warm up before a meeting or brainstorm session. You’ll find that your employees will be more productive and creative in that type of environment.

Recreational & Empowerment Improv. Workshops

 Overall Benefits: The exercises and activities in improvisation require people to interact with others to achieve a common objective – usually to tell a good story. The objective cannot be met if people don’t work harmoniously together. In order to reach this goal, people develop the skills and understanding of what is required to work effectively together and how to enjoy it. People have a basic human need to be involved in something bigger than them. Improvisation meets this need, as people are able to have creative expression and work together to achieve something they could never create by themselves. Improvisation develops one’s: Trust with team members. Ability to create and sustain rapport. Ability to empathize. Ability to see things from new perspectives.  Ability to influence. Ability to accept other people’s ideas and points of view. Ability to sacrifice one’s ego for the sake of the group. Book one for your group, team, company, party, office, class, mommy and me.

At Leif’s Inspiration and Empowerment Center we commit to always:

*Acknowledge every situation and desired outcome as unique.

*Approach individuals with empathy.

*Identify strengths and potential vulnerabilities.

*Provide the tools and support to quickly overcome obstacles.

*Create an environment that inspires more productive teams.

*Customize sessions based on your precise needs.  

*Empower and IMPROV. Your Business

Testimonials

Q: What are the facts/theories behind using improvisation in corporate training.?

A: Improvisation has many techniques and concepts that relate to business environments. The main foundation of improvisation is teamwork and support. It is about working together to build an ensemble, have engaging conversations and tell a story that is compelling for an audience.  Companies thrive by tapping into the creative talents of their employees. Innovation and creativity enhance productivity, accelerate capability and help sustain the competitive advantage. Companies must innovate to survive, and Improvisation is by nature – innovative! Improvisation is not only fun, it encourages individual choice, trust and risk.

Chris an improviser who’s been teaching corporations to “yes-and” since 2004 (he counts Google, Facebook, Cisco, eBay, and Dropbox as clients), cites the millennial-stacked tech industry as leading the charge. “I’ve found that the more a leader within the organization has done Improvisation before, the more likely a company or division within the company is likely to embrace Improvisation.” As millennials age into higher and higher position of power, Improvisation Empowerment theory will continue to shape corporate thinking.

Improvisation “draws on time-honored principles. They must be present in the moment, listening carefully, and contributing freely. These skills turn out to be particularly useful in workplaces that rely on adaptability … Studies have shown that people can improve their communication skills and lower their anxiety with regular practice. Improv’s low-stakes training increases the likelihood that team members will feel comfortable communicating in a variety of work situations.  Forbes Article, “Why Improvisation Empowerment training is Great Business training.”

Q: How are Improvisation and business life intertwined?                                                    

A: Business, like Improvisation, thrives on the exchange of information via dynamic conversations and excellent team work. Both require the need of original ideas. One of the golden rules of Improvisation is “Yes, And” which means to take what has been given to you by a scene partner and grow that idea even further. In a business environment, this means don’t make your teammates do all the communicating/work—everyone needs to contribute, help move projects forward with new/fresh ideas. It means “Yes, I understand your idea, AND here’s what I think can take it to the next level, or course correct to a new or different direction.” Duke, UCLA, MIT, and Stanford’s business schools are all offering Improvisation classes.

Empower and “IMPROV” Your School / Business

Don’t just take our word for it. If you need more reasons to start IMPROVing

Here are some of the schools and organizations we have worked with:

PS 52
PS MS 114
PS 206
PS 247
PS 277
PS119
Scholars Academy
Xaverian High School
LaGuardia High School
Mark Twain
Bay Academy
PPAS Middle and High School
Edward R Murrow High School
Kingsborough College
State Funded School / Summer Camp for the Blind
SONYC
UJA /JCC Child Care Specialist
UJA/JCC Specialist
UJA JCC Inclusion Specialist

Hebrew Educational Society
Brooklyn Rising
DOE Vendor

In improvisation, there are no mistakes.

Miles Davis

In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.

Charles Darwin

Improvisation and new learning are not private processes; they are shared with others at every age. We are called to join in a dance whose steps must be learned along the way, so it is important to attend and respond. Even in uncertainty, we are responsible for our steps.

Mary Catherine Bateson

Successful improvisation is mostly a matter of taking your thoughts out of the equation, because thinking can keep the magic from happening. You have to be open enough to let the magic happen, instead of trying to make it happen because magic is never made.

Jimmy Herring

To work from nature is to improvise.

Georges Braque

Improvisation is the expression of the accumulated yearnings, dreams, and wisdom of the soul.

Yehudi Menuhin

General improvisations often give actors an insight beyond their words by helping them to ‘see the word’ and achieve a reality for the scene.

Viola Spolin

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-to-use-improv-to-jumpstart-your-business-144852425.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/03/09/three-ways-you-can-hone-your-leadership-skills-with-improv/#6981e506435c 

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2015/may/6/what-business-leaders-can-learn-from-improv-actors/

http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/4-leadership-lessons-improv-actors-know.html

http://www.businessinnovationfactory.com/summit/story/improv-business-yes-and…see-how-it-works 

http://www.npr.org/2012/12/05/166484466/it-s-improv-night-at-business-school

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/magazine/19Industry-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/yankees-take-a-break-to-brush-up-on-their-comedic-skills/

http://www.holmesreport.com/opinion-info/10645/The-Cost-Of-Poor-Communications.aspx

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/08/12/rs.how.to.think.on.feet/index.html?iref=newssearch

“A fundamental principle of improv is listening and accepting any initiation that’s made on the stage. I want my managers to listen and respond to their employees’ perceptions, not ignore them. Managers have to be open to accepting any kind of initiation.” – Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter

Q: Why is Improv. training particularly important for current leaders, CEO’s, business owners, and aspiring leaders?

A:   Productive, effective, dynamic, and long lasting leaders are amazing individuals who continuously develop themselves. Leaders must use emotional intelligence to influence others.  Improvisation helps leaders to better express themselves, relate to others and cope with operating on point. Improvisation training provides a safe and fun place for leaders to energize, learn and practice new techniques, and learn how to better collaborate with others.  Enhanced capability in these areas directly impacts teams and productivity.

Aspiring leaders and individual contributors can use improvisation skills in the same way as leaders. Though application would appear a bit different and would focus on building better relationships with their peers, using creativity to create new ideas and to better communicate those ideas to their overseeing manager or team.  There are plenty of companies that exemplify what happens when you fail to embrace change —Blockbuster, Radio Shack and Kodak are examples of companies that did not embrace change, did not take advantage of unexpected opportunities and did not adapt to an evolving consumer landscape. One that did… Play Doh.

Improv is getting to be less of a hard sell to the Fortune 500. Considering over 10.000 people will take an Improv. Empowerment class this year. the odds are getting better and better that a future CEO will have done their time in the Improv Empowerment trenches. 

Q: What’s the most common shortcoming when it comes to interpersonal skills? How do you address them?   A: The most common shortcoming I have witnessed in our workshops is a fear of public speaking and a lack of awareness of how to professionally support someone else’s ideas. People hear improv and are automatically afraid of coming up with something on the spot, or speaking in front of a group. We address this fear right away by setting a ground rule that this is a safe and supportive environment. We emphasize that in the next two hours, there are no mistakes, only great ideas and all attendees will be supported in whatever they say. Our Improvisation instructor or team leads exercises on providing support and creating a comfortable environment. Several of our exercises explore how sharing your ideas, asking questions and driving conversation is a way to support others. Lack of awareness of how to professionally support other’s ideas is a common challenge.  Attendees know how to tell someone “good job” or “that was a good idea—congrats”, but they don’t initially realize that adding to someone’s idea is a compliment and a way to further support them in exploring the idea to its full potential.  This also gives them self-confidence.

 “Studying improvisation literally changed my life. The rules of improvisation appealed to me not only as a way of creating comedy, but as a worldview. In improv there are no mistakes, only opportunities.” – Tina Fey in Bossypants

Q: How does our training help business types overcome stage fright when speaking in a professional setting?

A: It’s a well-known that public speaking is listed as one of the biggest human fears! We have an entire workshop dedicated to building comfort around giving presentations.  The workshop focuses on preparation, visualization, practicing presentation delivery and receiving feedback, all with confidence. We also focus on the power of silence and teach tactics that allow presenters to pause, and consider their response before responding to questions. Our workshops involve interactive group activities that put people on the spot but in a safe and healthy way.  These experiences challenge and build confidence.  Some of the most rewarding feedback we have received is from people who are terrified of speaking in groups and were wary of how they would do during the workshop—some of these people had “break-out” experiences that resulted in a more positive and encouraging speaking experience.  It’s all about practice and positive experiences.

Of course, there are spoilsports, people who reject improv training because they think they don’t need it or it doesn’t apply to work. From our experience and other companies that have experienced it,  it washes away really fast, because they learn that this isn’t cleverness training or joke training. It’s really about the infrastructure of communicating and connecting.”

In fact, studies have shown that people can improve their communication skills and lower their anxiety with regular practice. Improv’s low-stakes training increases the likelihood that team members will feel comfortable communicating in a variety of work situations. “Yes, and” is the key. When you say yes to something and find a way to make it work, you actually are coming up with solutions, I believe there’s a longer-lasting satisfaction to saying yes and affirming things.”

The great thing about our workshops is that while one of our staff instructors are facilitating, the attendees are 100% fully engaged with each other.  We look for attendees who struggle with our introductory activities and we lend more support to them during exercises in the beginning and middle of the workshop.  We exploit signs of strengths and give them a bit more freedom and creative room as the workshop progresses. Attendees can participate at different levels and we make sure to facilitate towards each individual’s comfort zone, while pushing their boundary in a healthy way.

By the end of the workshop, introverted attendees are typically laughing, engaging and interacting with the group on a higher level. They’ve taken risks, they’ve succeeded, and they’ve tried some new things that didn’t work out as they might have expected.  Ultimately, they feel positively supported in their experience.

Q: Why is role-playing so important in corporate training?

​A: “Role-playing is an excellent tool for preparing for new or difficult situations”.

Q: Can improv and role-playing build confidence and character? If so, how?

A: Improv. role-playing, confidence and character are deeply related. Role-playing helps to build confidence, learn from mistakes in a risk-free environment, and better understand best practices. Improv. is all about role-playing and trying out new techniques in a safe environment. Improvisation exercises are basically role-play opportunities where attendees practice specific techniques for communicating creatively and spontaneously. These techniques lighten the communication process and highlight best practices for interpersonal communication. Being able to communicate so that your audience fully hears your message, and not only in a way that you are most familiar. You will learn to present your main idea or point, and then add in the details so everyone can follow. You learn to allow others to participate, and provide support, and understand how and when to change technique for maximum impact.  Improvisation exercises have levels of complexity that challenge different communication styles.

 Confidence increases with preparation and from receiving consistent positive results. The role-playing nature of improv gives plenty of opportunity to practice, learn, and achieve results.  Developing character comes into play through new experiences, challenges and successes—all of which are included in our improv workshops.

Why Attend an Improv workshop?  It’s not about becoming a comedy performer.  It’s not even only about becoming a better speaker.  The skills you learn in an improv workshop will be applied to all parts of your life.  They provide building blocks for business success.  Improv skills teach you to have more fun in life. They also teach you to be in the moment. In the moment is where opportunity shows up.  In life, opportunity shows up only occasionally. If you are not in the moment you risk losing out on opportunity. If it happens once, you can forgive yourself. But if it happens more than once, then you are responsible for it, and will kick yourself for not jumping on it when it shows up. Believe me, if you don’t someone else will.  What is holding you back? Fear? Lack of Confidence? Do you really work well with others?

1.Sharpen Leadership Skills.  An amazing thing I’ve learned after presenting Improv. workshops for more than ten years are this:  There is no such thing as a weak Improv. player.  There are only skilled Improv. players who are not skilled enough to make the weaker players look good. When a worker has substandard performance, the question is: Are YOU good enough to lead, motivate, and work with them.  You are responsible.  Make them look good.  Bring out their best.  This isn’t a gimmick.  This is a reality of life.  The responsibility and power lies with you.  Lead by example. What would the world be like if everyone was present for you, if everyone listened to you, if everyone treated you like a genius, if everyone agreed with you, if everyone trusted you.  What would it be like if each of your employees experienced that kind of world. It’s your job to be the “someone” who creates that experience for them.  Every choice you make affects other people.

2. Build Strong Ensembles/Teams.   You’ll learn strong skills in agreement and consensus.  The Improv. principle of YES AND teaches you to agree with others and to add to that agreement.  You will also understand that YES does not mean you agree, it simply means that you hear the other person.  It moves you forward.  BUT is an eraser and stops forward progress.  You learn to treat others as though they were a genius.  You develop the habit of going with the flow and trusting the group.  Learn to say yes to at least one stupid idea a week.  That, of course, is an impossible challenge.  There is no such thing as a stupid idea.  Improv. games are also great for mixers

3. Build Your Confidence.  In life, the prize often goes not to the fast but to

the bold.  Not to the quick but to the confident.  Improv training boosts your confidence.  Whenever you are personally challenged, it builds your confidence.  You become a better risk taker.  You learn to fail gracefully.  It gives you confidence.  And confidence enhances your performance and competence in the eyes of others.

4. Develop Listening skills.  Listening is more than hearing.  Listening is also watching.  Listening is understanding. Body language, gestures, facial expressions, and the tone of voice. Communication is more than facts.  Communication is watching for feelings and intention.  Improv teaches you all that, and how you can contribute by NOT saying something.

5. Inspire, Empower, and Stimulate Your Creativity.  Creativity is sometimes the result of talent, accident, or the product of self-confidence.  Improv training can help in you in all areas.  Improv teaches you to be open to possibilities and see the alternatives.  You become less rigid and more flexible.  You learn to contribute to the ideas of others, creating new possibilities. This often leads to amazing results, and empowers the ensemble.   Improv gives you a better understanding of that view of life.

6. Have Fun in the workplace.  A workplace with no play is usually rigid and inflexible.  Improv teaches you to play.  Use it to start the day playing a game with your ensemble/team.  Use improv games to warm up before a meeting or brainstorm session. You’ll find that your employees will be more productive and creative in that type of environment.

 At Leif’s Inspiration and Empowerment Center we strive to always:

*Acknowledge every situation and desired outcome as unique
*Approach individuals with empathy
*Identify strengths and potential vulnerabilities
*Provide the tools and support to quickly to overcome obstacles
*Customize sessions based on your precise needs

*Create an environment that inspires more productive teams

            Empower and IMPROV. your Business

LEIF’S IMPROVISATION PLAYHOUSE

“Be Present, Speak up, Take Action!”

Stay in the moment. And Seize the Opportunities!

Thanks for all the support!

www.leifsimprovplayhouse.com

www.facebook.com/Leifsimprovplayhouse?ref=tn_tnmn