Editor’s note: Nancy Cox is the founder of Research Story Consulting and former CPG corporate researcher. Her work and play include words, sketchpads, cooking (not baking) and the occasional sock puppet.
Passions, hobbies, healthy distractions and even guilty pleasures – discover how the research community plays and how that plays out in their work life. In the Venn diagram of work and play, what happens when work and play overlap? Research colleagues share their work and play stories in this interview series by Nancy Cox.
Hello to Tina Nathanson, director market Research and analytics, Quest Diagnostics
What is the “play” in your life?
The play in my life is improvisation. I don’t know if it’s my DNA or I just learned to be one that goes with the flow or wings it when a team is stuck – I’ll throw out “what do you think about…?” or “what if we tried this?” Throwing ideas out breaks the ice in a stressful situation. I’ve always been a fan of “Saturday Night Live,” “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and the “Second City.” I took improv classes through a Meet-up. I’ve read books. Even when I’m traveling with friends or family and we can’t find something to do, I’d say “Hey, there’s a local improv troupe performing tonight. Wanna go?” Tickets are cheap and, as an audience member, I’m the first one to raise my hand and participate because no one knows me. I like being in the moment, a rule breaker – a curator of rule breaking! Honestly, it’s about listening, being in the moment and being authentic. All things I love.
How has your play influenced your research work?
Improv is so experiential. You can bring 10 colleagues and 10 strangers in a room and co-create on new business concepts, for example, just by following the “yes, and” philosophy. The use of “yes, and” instead of “no, but” is the foundation of improvisation. It might feel like a free-for-all at first, but the beauty is that everyone has an opportunity to share with no judgment – no failure. Further, improvisers always agree with their partner’s statement and build on that with something new. This is where the ideas – and comedy – come from. When you say, “yes, and,” it becomes a game of “catch me if I fall” which opens you and your team up to endless possibilities. Sure, it can be scary at first because some think they have nothing to contribute, however, this technique has been extremely useful in brainstorming and idea sessions.
What would you tell readers who want to know more about your area of play?
I want to reassure everyone; you will not fail at improv. I took my first improv class with someone who was terrified to speak in front of other people. And he survived. I recommend the book, “Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses ‘No, But’ Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration – Lessons from The Second City” by Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton.
Google “improv troupes near me” or where you’re traveling. When you see a show, either live or on TV, pay attention and notice how they never ask each other a question, and no one yells over one another. Observe the connection between each other – this will lead to successful new ideas for your business, too. And when you’re there, raise your hand to participate.
Interview a child – they are really good at improvising. If you have a child, I am pretty sure you’ve made stuff up – so you’ve done improv. When my son was younger, I made up bedtime stories with him. I mashed up aspects of his life – sports, friends, interests – objects around his room and his love for cats. Each night, he would look forward to the tales of high jinks of three cool cats named Giggles, Pickles and Tickles. My son would be intertwined into their adventures, such as converting our backyard shed into a rocket ship to the moon. Or teleporting him to Yankee Stadium to watch Jeter play from a cat-sized hole in the dugout. Twenty years later, my son still remembers these stories and I hope that will continue to co-create this saga with his children.
Don’t be afraid to take a risk. Failure leads to success if you acknowledge it and then incorporate into the mix.