The Best Leaders are Improvisers
In a world that demands agility, creativity, and connection, Leading Offscript offers something radical: the power of improv as a tool for courageous leadership and vibrant teams.
Lead Your Dream Team
What is a Dream Team? We imagine most leaders would say something like this: They take risks. Pivot quickly. React decisively and thoughtfully. Trust each other. Problem solve. Prioritize the work ahead of office drama. Brainstorm creative ideas.
Sound like a pipe dream? It’s not. Leading the dream team is attainable with the power of improvisation training. Improv teaches people how to live comfortably and thrive in unexpected moments. A study from MIT Sloan highlighted improv's value in fast-changing environments, boosting leaders’ decision-making and resilience. So when your video doesn’t work or a client puts you on the spot, you’re ready.
It’s hard to learn that when the professional presenter says, “Forgive me while I just read from the slides.”
Improvisers create something from nothing by agreeing upon shared values, making confident choices, and trusting teammates. It’s no coincidence the golden rule of improv, “Yes, and” applies to real world success: Harvard Business Review reports that “Yes, and” culture promotes psychological safety and reduces defensiveness in teams. Also? Team psychological safety has been widely cited as the “engine” that drives successful teams.
The bottom line? Improv isn’t silly or sophomoric. It’s the super skill that will inspire your leadership.
Why Does Improv Work?
Improv is more than comedy—it's a scientifically supported method for creating resilient, emotionally intelligent, high-performing workplaces.
People learn by doing, not sitting and staring at a screen. It provides a safe place for teams to speak directly, fail and succeed, and connect to colleagues. Research from the Journal of Management Education found improv-based training significantly improved communication and emotional intelligence.
And guess what? You don’t have to be a comedian to master the tools of improv. Everyone can learn the skills to be a successful improviser. Studies have shown that leaders with a sense of humor have a positive impact on employee creativity and innovation, and colleagues with a sense of humor is correlated to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout.
Meet Katie Carroll
Your facilitator Katie brings years of experience in improvisation and leadership development. From NYU to the National Outdoor Leadership School, community theater to Broadway theaters, and backstage at music venues to onstage in the college classroom, count on her to shine a light on where your team is winning - and how improv will bring you to the next level of team collaboration and communication.
She won’t offer you trust falls, ice-breakers you’ve been doing since middle school, or catapult your executive team to the planet of unicorns in another galaxy. Instead, count on a specific, tailored event based on the personalities on your team.
Choose Your Training
Trust falls are out. Trust building is in.
Our workshops develop leadership skills, deepen trust between colleagues, and enhance communication. We offer experiences for leaders looking to bring fresh, people-centered tools back to their teams, and workshops for teams who want to strengthen how they work together.
Need some ideas? Review our possible workshops here.
Improv isn’t just for the stage—it’s a tool for the boardroom, the classroom, and the break room.
Katie Carroll delivers keynote talks like The Best Leaders are Improvisers that blend humor and research to inspire bold leadership, better listening, and deeper trust. While presentation based, these sessions are interactive and show the power of unconventional thinking to inspire conferences, leadership summits, or company-wide events.
We know every team is different, and every challenge is unique. That’s why we offer custom-built workshops tailored to your organization’s specific goals. Whether you need a one-hour spark, a half-day deep dive, or a multi-session transformation, we’ll collaborate with you to design a meaningful, engaging experience that meets your group where they are—and moves them forward.