Why Conversations Work (or Don't)
There are six reasons every conversation is hard — and eight things you can do about it. Improv performers figured this out by doing it live, every night, with no script. Here's what they found.
The six reasons it's hard
Every conversation you've ever had operates under these constraints — you just don't notice them until something goes wrong.
Eight things that help
Behavioral guidelines discovered through decades of improv practice. Not rules — things that consistently make connection work better.
When it goes wrong
Conversations fail in predictable ways. Once you can name the pattern, you can fix it.
See the failure patterns →Bigger picture
Where these ideas lead beyond the stage.