How Improv Helped My Selling Skills (and Possibly My Sanity)
Have you ever had a conversation at work that started with, “So, the residents found a raccoon in the pool again…” and ended with you planning a wildlife-themed community event? No? Just me? Cool.
Point is, working in multifamily housing means anything can happen—and often does. That’s why I signed up for an “Upskill with Improv” workshop. Not because I dream of Broadway (although my shower concerts are legendary), but because I needed help thinking on my feet without sounding like I just short-circuited.
Turns out, improv isn’t just for aspiring comedians and that one guy from accounting who thinks he’s hilarious at holiday parties. It’s for everyone. Especially us—those juggling residents, vendors, maintenance emergencies, and the occasional emotional support ferret.
Here’s what I learned from improv theme episode with my friend Stephanie Oehler of Savvy Leasing that’s actually helped me at work:
1. “Yes, And…” is a lifestyle.
In improv, you never shut someone down with a hard “no.” You build on what they said. At work, that might look like:
Resident: “I think my dishwasher is haunted.”
You (smiling): “Yes, and let’s have maintenance check it out—unless it starts doing the dishes well, in which case we’ll just name it Casper.”
2. Confidence is faking it until you nail it.
Improv teaches you to go with your gut. There are no scripts—just guts, instincts, and maybe a little panic sweat. That’s also how I felt the first time I led a tour for a prospective resident while a leaf blower raged outside and the fire alarm chirped every 47 seconds. I committed. I sold the ambiance as “urban jungle chic.” They signed the lease. Improv works.
3. Mistakes? We don’t know her.
In improv, if you mess up, you just roll with it. In real life, when I called a resident by their cat’s name during a community event, I just played it off like a joke: “Don’t worry, Whiskers—you still get a raffle ticket.” Everyone laughed. I survived. The cat glared at me.
4. Listening is your superpower.
Improv isn’t about being the funniest person in the room—it’s about listening so well you can build something amazing with others. At work, that means hearing what a resident really needs when they say, “This isn’t what I expected.” Sometimes it’s about fixing the issue. Sometimes it’s about showing them they’ve been heard. Sometimes it’s about snacks. (Snacks are never a bad idea.)
Bottom line?
Whether you're on stage, in the leasing office, or knee-deep in a surprise plumbing incident, improv skills help you stay flexible, responsive, and (bonus!) way more fun.
So go ahead, say “yes, and…” to that workshop. You might not become a comedian, but you will become the office MVP. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll finally be ready for that raccoon in the pool.
