The Free Association create an environment where colleagues value and celebrate an individual’s voice. We call this an “Idea Friendly Environment”. It’s one where people aren’t afraid to speak up, to lead when needed, to follow where necessary, to be proud of their own idea, but relinquish ownership and develop ideas together, as a team, when the time is right.

It’s important we engrain the notion of ‘listening to understand' rather than 'listening to respond'- one enriches and broadens our perspective the other feeds our need to be right and control the situation.

Listening, or what we call 'deep active listening', keeps you in the moment and not looking backward or jumping three steps ahead. You are more present and are postponing judgment. You are no longer setting up a 'point counter point' conversation or simply saying 'no' to something you perhaps disagree with. When you say "yes... and", you create forward progress, you open the door to discovery, opportunity, and forward-thinking.

By the end of the session, participants will feel that their voice is valued by others and that they are valuing their own voice too. Not being afraid to have those potentially difficult conversations as no matter what, your colleagues will have your best intentions at heart. They will be more engaged with their co-workers and interactions will become richer.

During our interactive workshop, we share impactful exercises, rooted in the principles of improvisation, to break down old habits and improve listening and communication.
The class is not about being funny and you won’t be put on the spot, so don’t worry about that. It is about listening, being present, and giving the exercises a go. We’ll ask the group to engage with our philosophies, principles, and lessons from years of working with creatives and businesses, alike.