Unscripted resilience: Improv as a training tool for business continuity and emergency management leaders

Jaeson A. Weber and Abrielle Grasty
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Jaeson A. Weber: Asfalis Advisors, USA
Abrielle Grasty: Senior Business Resilience and Continuity Consultant, USA

Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, 2025, vol. 18, issue 3, 268-280

Abstract: Effective leadership training is crucial for fostering organisational resilience and ensuring community safety in the dynamic fields of emergency management and business continuity. Traditional training methods often fail to develop the adaptability and quick thinking necessary for crises. This paper explores the innovative use of improvisational (improv) techniques as a potent training tool for developing critical leadership skills. Improv exercises enhance adaptability, quick decision making and clear communication, preparing leaders to handle crises confidently and swiftly. Furthermore, the paper highlights how improv fosters team building by encouraging collaboration, trust and mutual support among team members. By leveraging improv, organisations can better equip their leaders with the skills to manage realworld emergencies, maintain resilient operations and strengthen team cohesion. The paper also connects improv training to established leadership theories, underscoring its critical role in emergency and emergency management.

Keywords: improvisational training; emergency management; business continuity; leadership development; adaptability; decision making; communication skills; team building; organisational resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M1 M10 M12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aza:jbcep0:y:2025:v:18:i:3:p:268-280

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