The best leaders feel like they are really with you in the moment. It’s an act of generous presence that makes you feel valued and creates stronger relationships with better results.

This kind of presence can look easy and effortless, but it’s also a practice that can be learned and cultivated so you can get better over time.

The art of improvisation offers a radical way to develop this practice. How? Because the techniques improvisers use on stage are powerful tools for personal growth and professional development that can help you:

– stay grounded and connected even when you feel afraid or doubtful
– navigate uncertainty with poise instead getting lost in thought
– let go of perfectionism so you can embrace what’s happening
– collaborate with others with more influence and creativity

In this one day workshop you’ll learn practical ways of being more present in the here & now, which is the bedrock of success in any field. 

Like any practice, it involves a journey of self-discovery and mastery. By exploring the way you interact with others, and how you relate to failure and control, you’ll get lots of fresh insight into how you can show up in day-to-day life with more presence and ease (and less hesitation, doubt and fear).

Experiential learning

We learn best through personal experience, when we are in relationship with others, and enjoying ourselves. 

So our approach to professional development is immersive, interactive and it can be a lot of fun. We favour ‘learning by doing’ and we’ll make plenty of time to reflect on what’s comes up, what hinders us, and what helps us to be half-a-shade braver in the conversation with life.

We use activities from the world of applied improvisation and experiential training that have been adapted for workplace training. These activities are deceptively simple, and bring you into the present moment like nothing else. It’s not about improv comedy or being funny, it’s about playful experimentation and practice (lots of practice) so the learning sticks.

Our style is creative, and playful because seriousness is usually a barrier to learning and deeper personal growth. You’ll be engaged, involved and creatively inspired throughout the day.

Programme content

In this one day workshop, participants will:

• Experience the sense of connection and clarity that comes from being here & now
• Acquire tools for staying centred to handle ‘low-grade stress’ and listen more effectively
• Use effective techniques for balancing inner awareness and the flow of outward attention
• Understand the impact of disconnection and non-presence in leading and following
• Apply practices of embodied leadership, such as including others in your personal space
• Learn skills, habits and behaviours that support generous, open presence in day-to-day work
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Who is it for?

Leadership is not a position or a title. More than anything, it is a choice. So this workshop is suitable for anyone making the choice to guide change in their team, group, community or organisation. There’s great value in this professional development for experienced leaders as well as managers/team leaders in earlier stages of their careers.

Get in touch to arrange a chat, or drop us a message, if you want to see if this training is a good fit for you.

Quick summary

– 1 day workshop
– Tuesday 23 April, 9:30am to 4pm
– Central Ipswich (Venue TBA soon)
– £200 early bird (to 31 March), £250 regular price
– Small group – max 10 participants

About the trainer

Alex Menhams is the founder of Here & Now and is an experienced facilitator and trainer who creates a warm and friendly space in which anyone can learn, play and experiment with different ways of showing up.

He believes the gifts of  improvisation and story are perfect for finding new inspiration in life, and he has worked with AstraZeneca, Adnams, Shell, University of Suffolk, Britten Pears Arts, Access Community Trust and Theatre Royal Norwich.

Want to do this in your company?

We offer bespoke professional development for groups, team and organisations. Get in touch if you’d like to explore immersive and interactive training.

We are also running the Leading with Presence workshop in Norwich on 13 June. Book here for the Norwich session.