Police are turning to improv to improve leadership skills

Fast Company

2 days ago

Discomfort is common in leadership training, but it's especially palpable when you walk into a room of police commanders and ask them to say 'Yes, and…'
That's the scene I step into regularly as part of my work with the Policing Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago Crime Lab. These sessions bring together leaders from some of the most high-risk, high-pressure precincts in the country. At first, there's skepticism. Arms crossed. Blank faces. There's a quiet but unmistakable undercurrent: What is this? Why are we here?
Then, something shifts.
Within 30 minutes, they're not just participating; they're connecting. They're not just answering; they're listening. And whether they realize it or not, they're building the skills of an improviser: agility, curiosity, presence, and trust.
The challenge facing law enforcement leadership
Police leadership today demands far more than operational expertise. Commanders are expected to be strategic communicators, culture builders, and community connectors, all while navigating constant scrutiny, high-stakes decision making, and immense public pressure.
Yet many of these leaders rise through the ranks without ever receiving formal training in communication or emotional agility. Their development often emphasizes tactics, not trust. And that leaves a gap between what their roles require and what they've been prepared to do.
This isn't a critique of individuals. It's a systemic truth. And it mirrors challenges in other industries: elevated expectations without the human-centered training to meet them.
Why improv is the unexpected solution
Improvisation is often misunderstood as spontaneous silliness. But at its core, improv is structured practice in navigating the unknown with others. It's the skillset of presence. Of curiosity. Of listening before reacting.
At Second City Works, we use applied improvisation to help professionals build real-world capabilities, ones that align perfectly with the demands of modern leadership. Skills like:
'Yes, and': A mindset that builds momentum rather than shutting it down. It trains leaders to acknowledge others' ideas while adding their own, creating space for collaboration, not control.
Intentional listening: Listening not to respond, but to understand. It's a discipline that reduces conflict and strengthens relationships.
Agility in complexity: The ability to make clear, grounded decisions without a script. Something every leader (especially in law enforcement) needs daily.
As my colleague Kelly Leonard often says, 'Improv is yoga for your social skills.' It stretches our empathy, it strengthens our communication skills, and it builds the kind of flexible resilience that today's workplaces demand.
What happens when police leaders learn to improvise
These skills aren't just interesting, they're effective.
A 2023 study published in Science Direct found that participants in improv-based training improved their adaptability, confidence, and clarity under stress. In high-pressure environments, those outcomes aren't optional. They're essential.
At the Policing Leadership Academy, I've seen those outcomes firsthand. In nearly every session, there's a moment when one participant turns to the group and names what everyone is feeling: that this work matters. That shift in energy is immediate. The room leans in. And more often than not, the person making that statement is later chosen by their peers to deliver the graduation speech. In every case, they've referenced our session as a turning point.
And the data backs this up. A 2024 review in the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology found that leadership programs emphasizing communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution led to increased officer safety, fewer misconduct reports, and stronger public perception.
Similarly, a two-year study involving 101 first-line supervisors in the ILEA School of Police Supervision program found that service-oriented leadership rose from 63% to 77% after training. Among those who reported communication gains, that number jumped from 35% to 93%.
The lesson is clear: When we train for communication, trust, and presence, whether through improv or other human-centered methods, we don't just make better leaders. We make safer, more connected communities.
What every industry can learn from this
The conditions that challenge law enforcement (uncertainty, complexity, rapid change) aren't exclusive to policing. They're everywhere.
Across sectors, leaders are being asked to connect across differences, navigate conflict with empathy, and make quick decisions that carry real consequences. They're also leading teams that are more dispersed, more diverse, and more stressed than ever before.
And yet, many industries still treat communication and relational skills as secondary, if they're addressed at all.
That's a mistake. According to Gallup, business units with higher employee engagement (which is closely linked to better communication and leadership) see up to 23% increases in profitability and 18% higher sales. And in that same Science Direct study, individuals who participated in improv training saw meaningful increases in creative self-efficacy and self-esteem. These two qualities are essential for innovation and confident leadership.
The message is simple: The workplace doesn't need more perfect scripts. It needs more people who can lead without one.
Why now
We are living in a time of disruption. New technologies, new expectations, and new ways of working are reshaping the workplace faster than most organizations can adapt.
But some truths remain constant: People want to feel heard. They want to feel understood. They want to follow leaders who can communicate clearly, respond flexibly, and model confidence under pressure.
Improv doesn't just help you react; it helps you relate.
And whether you're commanding a precinct or running a board meeting, those are the skills that make leadership work.