Over a dozen years ago, I wrote two articles about how improvisational theater exercises could help prepare recruits and officers for scenario-based training and real-life street encounters. I compared improv exercises to strength training and stretching before a scrimmage or game. My focus was on street tactical and communication skills.
I was inspired to look at how improv could help officers develop these skills after seeing Craig Zablocki deliver a keynote to cops, child protection service workers and other professionals at a Child Abuse Summit. I bought Craig’s book, Improv 101: 101 Improvisational Exercises to Unleash Your Creative Spirit, and went on to write the articles. I incorporated improv into my law enforcement training but didn’t think much more about it.
Then I saw Jessica Crowley’s course listed for the 2024 International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) Conference — Improvise, Adapt, Protect: Using Improv to Increase Police Safety. Curious, I reached out to Jessica and we had a long conversation. She opened my eyes to the value of improv for more than street skills training — specifically, to develop officers’ leadership skills such as awareness, decisiveness, connection, communication, and acceptance, and being in-process instead of result-oriented.
Jessica Crowley embodies strength and resilience — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I don’t say that lightly, and Jessica didn’t come by it easily. Sure, genetics plays a part in being a gifted athlete, but Jessica has worked hard and overcome injury and adversity. While she currently trains and coaches athletes and first responders, she’s also a 27-year retired veteran from a suburban police department outside of Chicago. She spent 18 of those years as a sergeant.
Before she became a cop, in addition to athletics, Jessica was creative — writing poetry and drawing. Those endeavors faded when she was in policing. Then, in the late 90s, she suffered an on-duty injury and was off work for 18 months, undergoing numerous surgeries.
Jessica attempted to reconnect with her artistic pursuits. Where her creativity once thrived, policing had managed to shut the door on something remarkably fulfilling, and seemingly replaced it with a scripted routine.
An improv theater opened near Jessica. She began to participate. She wanted creativity back — she got that, and much more. She learned improv wasn’t about trying to be funny. It was about creating something collectively. She had yet to discover the application to policing.
Fast forward a couple of years and Jessica found herself a sergeant at another staff meeting — brooding, stewing and judging others, often with the words “a - - hole” and “d – ck” going through her mind. Then something else went through her mind, “This is not the most effective way to approach a meeting, seize opportunities, or make others feel valued.”
She arrived at the next staff meeting intentionally applying the principles of improvisation. She decided to lean in, be in the present moment, maintain eye contact and listen without judgment — all things she’d learned in improv. She didn’t have to agree, but she did accept the views of others. Jessica began to change. As she did, the work and her relationships began to change — for the better.
As Jessica’s ILEETA training presented, the number 1 skill in improv is listening. It’s also the number 1 skill in leadership:
- It motivates co-workers
- It drives innovation
- It increases trust
- It sets a good example
- It helps you make better decisions.
As Jessica practiced listening and her other improv skills as a sergeant, she experienced big gains:
- Her communication changed
- Her relationships and connections changed
- She saw her own and her team’s curiosity, engagement, motivation, empowerment, trust, focus, adaptability, and flexibility increase
- Each member began to add value to what others offered.
At the 2024 ILEETA Conference, Jessica talked with Brian Willis, a 25-year police veteran, 33-year law enforcement trainer veteran and CEO of Winning Mind Training. They discussed “hard” skills versus “soft skills.”
Brian said that that while tactical training is generally thought of as “hard” skills, it’s really relationships that are the “hardest.” That’s what improv tackles — in police work and the personal lives of officers. Improv skills don’t just make you a better co-worker and leader, they make you a better friend, spouse, partner, parent, sibling and offspring.
In addition to Craig Zablocki’s book, here are two resources that both Jessica and I have found useful exercises in:
As American actor, comedian and writer Scott Adsit says, “The rules of improvisation apply beautifully to life. Never say no, you have to be interested to be interesting, and your job is to support your partners.”
Those are great skills to have in all aspects of policing and life.
