Embracing Trust and Openness at Cabuwazi

We had another meaningful workshop with applied improvisation methods with the Cabuwazi volunteer workers – this time in a magical circus tent in Berlin/Treptow.

The long-term aim - set by the volunteer coordinator – is to develop a well-functioning and harmonic team (vs a group of cooperating individuals), where the members can inspire, correct and encourage each-other and where conflicts are not swept under the carpet but can be openly discussed.

We focused on the following skills:

• Trust and Openness: Google looked at this topic closer and found out that “psychological safety” is far more significant for teams to work successfully than individual talents or technical skills. Trust and openness are a crucial source of psychological safety. The culture of safety and trust must be created.

• Listening and Maintaining Focus: Being fully focused on the teamwork and being "here and now". This is a vital skill for effective communication which in turn is the basis of effective teamwork.

• Sharing: The more the team members are ready to truly open-up, higher the level of psychological safety. Only than can real experiences and expertise come into play.

These skills cannot be learned from books. That´s when applied improvisation comes handy and we can develop these skills through experiences.

Thank you again for your presence (“here and now” ) and for your openness dear Cabuwazi volunteer workers!

Below you can find some impressions from our workshop.

(Literature: Schinko-Fischli, Susanne; 2019; Applied Improvisation for Coaches and Leaders)