I’ve seen it at hundreds of corporate Christmas parties, sales retreats and other banquets I’ve performed at over the years. Staff members called up to be recognized for their years of service or another award. Winners get a handshake, a photo and a little glass trophy. Sadly, these annual or semi-annual functions are often the only time the organization celebrates work well done.

Companies should be creating a culture of celebration that is woven into the fabric of their workplace. Celebration will transform your team into a more energized, productive and unified group. Your people will push harder, do more and handle disappointment better within a culture of celebration. In this post I’ll show you why celebration is such a powerful element of great teamwork and list 5 real benefits of celebration in the workplace.

Rock, Paper, Celebrate!

One of my favorite exercises for demonstrating the benefits of celebration in the workplace is Rock Paper Scissors Entourage, or RPS Entourage for short. It’s fast-paced, loud and SO MUCH FUN.

I break the entire group into pairs. When I say “GO!” everyone does one round of Rock Paper Scissors. Whoever wins puts their hand up and shouts, “Winner!” Whoever loses immediately becomes a part of their former opponent’s entourage and cheers them on loudly in future battles.

The game moves quickly. Winners find each other and battle again. Losers AND their entire entourage are now cheering for the player who just beat them. The game culminates when there are only two opponents left, each with half of the room cheering them on wildly.

You would not believe the energy in the room, rising to a crescendo in the final battle. It’s incredible. When we debrief I ask why everyone was so invested in a simple game of Rock Paper Scissors. I get answers like:

“It was just really fun to be cheering with other people for your team.”

“More is at stake with every battle. The pressure is intense, but it feels so cool to have everyone cheering for you.”

“When I won (the final battle) I felt like I had won the lottery. It felt amazing.”

Consider that last statement, offered by the gentleman who won the game in a recent workshop I taught. He and the other finalist were at the front of the room surrounded by their loud, cheering entourages. The players were cracking their necks and shaking out their arms in preparation for the final battle. When he won his team erupted in jubilation and high-fives while he bellowed a victory cry with his arms raised. It was hilarious.

I asked the winner if he acts like this every time he plays Rock Paper Scissors. He chuckled and said, “No”.

What was the difference? Why did winning RPS Entourage feel like winning the lottery for this young man? The difference, we discovered, was in the entourage. It was in the momentum and energy created by the people cheering him on. It’s human nature to push a little harder when we know someone is rooting for us and counting on us. The celebration itself created a new level of focus, intensity and fun.

Have you introduced a culture of celebration to your team?

Here are 5 Real Benefits of Celebration in the workplace

1. Your team will have more fun.

Your staff will simply enjoy their work more when they see you looking for and celebrating wins. Don’t wait for the really big wins; celebrate the small wins, too. Weave a thread of celebration into the workplace and you’ll see a boost in morale and productivity.

2. Your team will risk more and do more.

Risk is scary. Presenting a big idea or pushing past their comfort zone can be stressful and intimidating for your team. It can also be exhilarating. A culture of celebration motivates your team to risk more. The fear of failing is replaced by a greater desire to win.

“ A culture of celebration motivates your team to risk more. The fear of failing is replaced by a greater desire to win. —ANDREW BRIGHT

3. Your team will be more open to criticism.

Healthy criticism is one of the ways we improve our work and move toward excellence. On the other hand, nothing will stunt your team’s growth more than unhealthy or constant criticism.

When you create a culture of celebration you do not lose your right to challenge ideas and reprimand poor work. I would argue that you have more opportunity to challenge your staff when they trust you to also celebrate their wins.

4. Your team is better equipped to deal with disappointment and failure.

Remember the RPS Entourage exercise? With every battle half the people lose until there is only one winner in a room full of losers.

So why is everyone in such a great mood? It’s a question I ask in every exercise. “Why are you all so happy? Most of you lost!”

One woman said in a recent workshop, “My personal failure seemed insignificant in the scope of becoming part of the winning team. I got over my own loss very quickly because I immediately had an opportunity to turn around and cheer for my team.”

A culture of celebration softens the blow of disappointment and failure. Celebrating often keeps winning fresh in our mind.

5. Your team will begin to celebrate each other.

As leaders our behavior is duplicated, for better or worse. Become a leader who creates a culture of celebration and your team will join you. You’ll begin to see them encouraging and celebrating one another. It’s a wonderful thing.

Create A Culture of Celebration

Become a leader who hunts for reasons to celebrate and quickly gives recognition to your team. It does not have to be big or costly or over the top. It can simply be voicing how much you appreciate an individual’s work. Do that often. Make it a part of your daily ritual. Get your coffee, check your email, go tell someone they are doing a great job.

There is so much to celebrate in every organization if you commit to look for it. As a leader, develop a culture of celebration and you will create a culture of energy, productivity and momentum.

Now let’s help each other out with a little celebration brainstorming. In the comments below, what are some simple ways you can think of to celebrate your team?

Fear taunts us, stalls us, compares us to others who seem so much more equipped for success or are already more successful. Fear keeps us from voicing a great idea because we’re worried it may be lame. Fear is like those stupid trick birthday candles that never really go out. Just when you think you’ve extinguished fear, it flickers back to life again.

One night following a gig the guys and I were back in the hotel and ended up watching “Bad Ink”. In a nutshell, the show features people with horribly embarrassing or poorly done tattoos who go to some master artists for help. The tattoo artists miraculously turn the bad ink into creative, tactful masterpieces. They don’t remove the bad tattoos. They build over and around them.

We need to handle fear the same way. If our goal is to remove fear from our lives, then every time it flickers to life again we’ve failed. Rather, we build around the fear, master it, and turn it to our advantage.

Thrills and Chills

Personally, I love fear. I’m a thrill seeker. The higher, faster, and more dangerous something is, the more I am drawn to it.

Even if skydiving and bungee jumping isn’t your thing, my guess is that everyone embraces fear to some degree. Just think of how many people enjoy suspenseful movies. Take a minute to consider why roller coasters are so popular. Have you ever seen a billboard advertising the slowest rollercoaster in the country?

Come Experience The Tranquilizer! Gentle Slopes. Tedious Turns. Nothing Matches The Monotony Of The Tranquilizer!

Nope. Not interested.

I had the privilege of watching my boys, ages 5 and 7, experience Disneyland’s Space Mountain for the first time this year. They took some time deciding whether or not they wanted to ride it. As we got closer to the front of the line and began to hear the sound of the cars on the track and the screams of the riders, I could see them beginning to feel apprehensive. I had told them we could get out of line and skip the ride at any time, but they wanted to go ahead.

During the ride one of them screamed his head off and the other was so terrified he was completely silent. The photo waiting at the end of the ride was absolutely priceless. Better yet, they couldn’t wait to do it again. It had been terrifying and exhilarating. We all rode it several times.

Everest vs. Escalators

It’s the hard things that are the most rewarding. If I told you I had reached the summit of Mount Everest I’ll bet you would be impressed. That’s a short list of climbers. If I posted a picture on Facebook of me standing at the top of an escalator with the caption, “I did it!! Bucket list checked!” would you still be as impressed? Not likely.

Being fear-less, as in without fear, sounds pretty boring. I’m not talking about fear from genuine danger, like the fear of being harmed by someone. I’m talking about the fear that flickers to life, or maybe even envelopes us, when we’re facing hard decisions or taking a leap into new territory.

Here are 3 tips I’ve found useful in mastering fear.

1. Be specific. Fear thrives within uncertainty. Instead of saying, “I’m planning to write a book,”  say, “I’m going to write a  7 chapter book on Leadership Through The Lens Of Improv Comedy by July 31st.” Specific goals help you make specific plans to get moving.
2. Find some friends. One of the things I love most about improv is that I don’t do it alone. Someone always has my back. Don’t fight fear alone. Find others to keep you accountable, encourage you, spur you on. When we begin to doubt ourselves, it’s nice to know that others are cheering us on. I was recently part of John Acuff’s 30 Days of Hustle. One of the best parts of that course was hustling alongside and cheering on others via the Facebook group. This blog is a product of that incredibly valuable course.
3. Celebrate the small wins. You win more often than you think. In improv we celebrate all the time. We stop and laugh at each others’ jokes. Sometimes it’s just a subtle nod or wink to another actor that says, “that was brilliant!” It’s keeps us moving and having fun. Don’t wait until you’ve finished the big goal to celebrate. Celebrate often.

Rather than fearing fear, let’s embrace the discomfort and intensity it can bring and use it to drive us. There is something about fear and discomfort that lets us know we’re on to something great. Ride that wave. Clench your jaw and allow it to motivate you. Rather than working to remove fear from our lives, let’s take a note from the artists of Bad Ink. Let’s build around it and turn it into something awesome.

“ Rather than fearing fear, let’s embrace the discomfort and intensity it can bring and use it to drive us forward. —ANDREW BRIGHT

I’m in the middle of writing a book on Leadership Through The Lens Of Improv Comedy. I’m battling the fear of feeling unqualified. Who am I to write a book?  I’m also using that fear to drive me forward. It’s going to be a great book.

What is one thing you are working on that has you scared? I’d love to see your comments below.

Grace. It’s been a popular name for decades. We say grace before we eat. The Bible says we are saved by grace. Without grace, figure skating becomes hockey, and dancing devolves into twerking. Grace is also a key element of improv comedy and needs to be a key component of your organization.

One of the things I love most about improv comedy is the inherent grace that is a part of each show. Because of the immensely interactive nature of improv comedy, there is a connection between the actors and the audience. We’re in this together. They become invested in the success of the show as we use their ideas to create the comedy.

The audience is also aware of the risks we have to take to do improv. That’s why it’s so exciting. Humor and story written in the moment. Created for the first time, every time, right before your eyes. It’s the comedy version of crossing Niagara Falls on a high wire. Comedy without a net.

For improv to work, grace must be in play.

Grace must be in play because we’re going to fail. At least once every show. Failing is part of improv. Sometimes a joke bombs or the guy who can’t sing is forced to sing a solo. He painfully screeches his way through a song about the trials of raising hairless llamas as the audience applauds and cheers with glee. That’s right, applauds and cheers. Because they love it.

Audiences love the authenticity and vulnerability of improv.

They love it because they understand the agreement.

They just asked us to do a scene about hairless llamas in the style of a high school musical. We said yes. Now the audience can’t wait to see how we are going to pull it off, and they are extending grace to us. Mary, full of grace. And so is Bob, and Phil, and everyone else in the audience.

The actors know the deal, too. We know the audience is more interested in what happens next than whether we will be polished and perfect. So we go for it with everything we’ve got. We jump. Not fearing failure. Because failing may be just as entertaining, and we’re entertainers.

In fact, The Panic Squad incorporates improv games into each of our sets that will ensure we fail at some level. We attempt the impossible and fall short to the delight of the audience. Then we somehow miraculously pull it off. It’s an amazing ride for our audience and these are often the most loved and applauded parts of our show.

The only real failure is not trying.  Audiences don’t like improv actors who pull back, who play it safe, who give up on an idea or scene. It was the audience’s idea, you chickened out, and now they feel ripped off. That’s when they turn on you.

If you’re honest with yourself, you’re probably the same way as a leader.

When you give your team a task or direction, you want them to commit. You value initiative. You are impressed by employees who push their limitations and are willing to work outside of their comfort zone. You’re glad you brought them to that Tony Robbins seminar.

When your team won’t take a task seriously, drags their feet, or makes excuses, you feel ripped off. The least they can do is try their best. Before you ask them into your office, ask yourself if your team knows it’s okay to fail.

Don’t forget your part of the deal. Grace must be an inherent part of your leadership. When I’m on stage in front of a warm audience and I know grace is in play, I can do anything. Is grace at play in your role as a leader? How about at home as a spouse or parent? Do those close to you fear failing you?

“ Is grace in play in your role as a leader? As a spouse or parent? Do those close to you fear failing you? —ANDREW BRIGHT

Your team has to know that they can fail without fear that you’ll turn on them. They have to trust that the only real failure is not trying. Failure will come. Coaching your team through a failed idea or project is  one of the most significant and rewarding things you’ll do as a leader.

“ Coaching your team through failure is one of the most significant and rewarding things you’ll do as a leader. —ANDREW BRIGHT

When your team knows the deal and trusts that grace is at play, you will be amazed at what they will accomplish. What would it feel like to lead a team that believes they can do anything? What could be possible? Is grace a part of your leadership?

Here we go. Post #1. Lift off. On your mark, get set, GO! Through this blog we will laugh a lot and learn together from successes I’ve found, secrets I’ve discovered, and horrible mistakes I’ve made. We will look at life and leadership through the lens of improv comedy.

I’ve been a professional improv comedian for 20 years. I absolutely love it. Not only do I get to bring face stretching, stomach clutching, tear streaming laughter to audiences across North America, I’ve been working in a teamwork and leadership crucible for 20 years.

Improv is the essence of teamwork and leadership. Trust is crucial. Fear and ego must be overcome. Forward momentum is key. Listening is essential. Improv has so much to teach us about teamwork, leadership and life in general.

I guarantee Improv has something to teach you, too. To be certain, let’s take a little test. Improv has something to teach you if:

1. You are part of a team with other people that don’t think exactly like you.

2. You lead a team with other people that don’t think exactly like you, or each other.

3. You want to move forward but feel stuck. It’s like you’re standing in Jello. You know what needs to be done but it’s hard to move and kind of comfortable. Who doesn’t like Jello? Then your competition eats you alive.

4. Taking risks and leaping into something new sounds wonderful and terrifying. Mostly terrifying.

5. There is a jerk in your life that you have to work with. The best part of your day is dreaming about epic ways they might fail. Dreams may include projects that tank, horrible faults being exposed in a very public way, Kanye West grabbing their microphone, their pet dying, or watching them catch the bus…from behind.

6. Your team hears you talk about the importance of transparency and vulnerability. But you worry about the future and keep your failures close to the vest.

7. You planned for one outcome but were dealt another. Like my first date. The girl said yes. My dad let me use his car. The date was perfect except for the drive home. That’s when I wrecked my dad’s car and covered my date in cow manure. True story. I did not marry that girl.

8. You tell yourself you are a creative, but in truth you are unorganized, inefficient and lack motivation. All of which hinders your creativity.

9. Fear is a part of your life like a bad back tattoo. You can’t remember getting it, and hate that it’s there. You feel like everyone is snickering or judging when you turn your back. The only thing that could possibly be more painful and costly than doing nothing is doing what it takes to have it removed.

10. Your ego makes Howard Stern look humble.

11. Your life has become more predictable than a Hallmark movie.

12. You are human.

So, did you find yourself somewhere on this list?

Me too. I’ve struggled with each of them at one point or another. The great news is that I’ve learned a lot as I’ve fallen flat, moved forward, listened to others and made difficult changes. I can’t wait to share it all with you via this blog.

A number of years ago I took a hard look at what really makes improv work. Then I created a number of professional development workshops that use improv to teach key elements of teamwork and leadership. We’ve had a lot of fun and great success as we’ve helped organizations navigate change and move forward.

Now I’m taking my years of experience leading a team of improv actors, and the best material from the workshops we teach, and bringing it to a wider audience via this blog. I hope you will join me in this journey. One thing improv has taught me is that we never stop learning. I’m sure you have something to teach me, as well. I can’t wait!

Here’s a question to get started.

From the “Improv has something to teach you if:” list, which ones resonated with you the most? List your top three. Feel free to list just the numbers, or include a brief explanation.

I have lots to share but I’ll make those items a priority as we begin this journey together. I can also give short insights and answer brief questions as I monitor the comments.

Thank you for joining me in this journey. Let’s get started!