Improv to Improve

After Game On’s recent feature on HBO’s Hard Knocks with the Buffalo Bills, the NFL posted this headline below on their social media platforms:

“Every team needs to bring in an improv coach”.

We received this as a fantastic endorsement and a nice compliment, but it also brought up this common question in the comments:

“Why would a professional football team spend valuable time doing improv?”

Upon first glance, improv might seem a bit lighthearted, with very little connection to high-performance environments. But upon further reflection, improv is one of the most effective ways to strengthen core skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, confidence, adaptability, and a winning mindset.

These core skills are imperative for good teams to become great, and for great teams to maintain their excellence…on the playing field, in the boardroom, the classroom, and anywhere communication, confidence, and connection drive outcomes.

What made this session with the Bills effective, and what’s been driving Game On’s CORE, Complimentary, and Customized programs for almost 30 years are these two factors:

1. The Challenge + Support dynamic... that is inevitably in play when we’re exposed to positive and healthy improvisation.

2. Our “Rules of the Game” framework... which helps ensure everyone has a safe, successful, and purposeful shared experience.

Improvisation Provides...Challenge + Support

Meaningful and memorable learning is achieved when people are stretched but not left alone, and that’s what improv provides, with a solid blend of both Challenge + Support.

- The Challenge: Step outside your comfort zone, take a risk, and respond in real time without a script. This builds adaptability, confidence, and presence under pressure.

- The Support: Teammates are trained to ensure no one is left hanging. They are positioned to listen, affirm, and build on each other’s ideas.

That simultaneous, dual experience of high challenge + high support is the sweet spot for professional growth, especially with high performers. That shared experience unlocks trust, connection, and the type of resiliency leaders want to see in their people.

Our “Rules of the Game” provide...A Framework for Success

Game On’s improv-based programs and trainings work because they follow clear and powerful rules that invite everyone to:

- Laugh with, not at – The focus is on creating shared joy and lifting others up.

- Have each other’s back – Success comes from collective support, not just individual performance.

- Celebrate small wins – Every step forward matters and progress fuels momentum.

These aren’t just rules for a stage, they’re the cultural anchors of high-performing organizations, grounded in trust, support, and encouragement.

What It Means for Teams Like the Bills (and Yours)

When the Bills engaged in improv, they weren’t just playing games, they were practicing listening skills, building trust, and reinforcing the idea that every voice has value. They were creating a culture where teammates lean on each other, adapt quickly, and celebrate shared success.

For executives, team leaders, and professionals in any industry, improv is more than just entertainment. It’s a training modality that accelerates human connection and strengthens the cultural glue that organizations need to thrive in times of challenge, change, and pressure.

Three Takeaways for Your Organization

1. Create a collaborative space for risk-taking. Teams innovate when people feel they can take chances without fear of judgment. Improv offers a structured process to practice stepping outside the comfort zone, while developing innovation and adaptability muscles.

2. Build a culture of mutual support. “Have each other’s back” isn’t just a phrase, it’s a behavior. Through improv, participants practice active listening, and ensure all good and healthy ideas are welcomed. This mindset shift fosters creativity, confidence, and collaboration that all teams deserve to experience.

3. Reinforce momentum through recognition. In improv, every good contribution, no matter how small, gets acknowledged. That rhythm of celebrating progress keeps teams engaged and motivated. Imagine the power of that same approach when applied to strategic initiatives, leadership development, or organizational change.

If a professional football team sees value in improv-based training, and the result is a deeper connection, more resiliency, and improved trust, imagine what it could do for your leaders and teams.

With all that said, we agree with the NFL in that...

“Every team needs to bring in an improv coach”,

and we can help with that request. Let’s go!!!

Game On!

Want to learn more about how Game On can support your team? Schedule a call with us!