Case Study
Education Team at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Applied Improvisation Team Building Workshop, 15th September 2021
SUMMARY
The Education Team at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney is dedicated to connecting people with plants through transformative learning experiences. Their mission encompasses imaginative horticulture, beautiful landscapes, and cultural events, aiming to inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Operating across three major sites, the team develops curriculum-linked programs that engage students of all ages. These programs emphasize environmental education, conservation, and the cultural significance of Australia's unique flora.
Guided by core values of innovation, imagination, and curiosity, the Education Team strives to foster connections between communities and nature, promoting sustainability and biodiversity awareness.
#participants
Length of session
min.
Location
Online via Zoom
2. Context and Objectives
In the midst of extended COVID-19 lockdowns, the Royal Botanic Gardens’ education team faced siloed communication, stagnated collaboration, and the need to co-design new programs across diverse sites. The aim of the session was to foster playful connection, introduce tools for more fluid communication, and break down entrenched patterns of isolated ideation. The team manager hoped the session would help team members “bring a brick, not a cathedral” — focusing on collective co-creation rather than individual ownership of ideas
3. Session Snapshot
The 90-minute session introduced a series of structured improvisation games — including "Yes, And", "Three-Word Story", and "Machine" — each designed to loosen thinking, improve active listening, and surface collaboration in low-pressure, creative ways. The tone was set as one of psychological safety, with emphasis on participation over performance.
“When you know your job is to build on someone’s idea, you listen more thoroughly… instead of just waiting to say your own thing.”
4. Observed Outcomes
Participants noted a marked increase in energy, engagement, and interpersonal openness. A common reflection was that activities like “Yes, And” changed the tone of conversations — from judgmental or dismissive to generative and inclusive.
“There are meetings where everyone is just sitting there staring blankly at the screen… but when we start off with a game, everyone perks up and immediately contributes.”
— Team Member
One key takeaway was how the improvisational tools began embedding in daily practice. Team members reported that even weeks after the session, terms like “yes, and” were surfacing organically in meetings, changing how ideas evolved in real time.
“Someone had a fairly small idea that then became a really interesting idea… and we just kept building. Someone finally said, ‘Oh my god, we just yes-anded it!’”
— Holly, Team Leader
The team even initiated a weekly practice of bringing games to meetings — with quieter members, previously hesitant, volunteering to lead.
5. Results from Participants
Participants said the workshop:
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Made them feel more “heard and appreciated”
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Helped them “listen better” by focusing on building rather than evaluating
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Encouraged greater idea sharing without fear of being shot down
6. Conclusion
Even in a single hour, applied improvisation surfaced new possibilities for team dynamics. By replacing defensiveness with curiosity and competition with co-creation, the session gave the education team practical tools to navigate complexity, reduce siloed thinking, and build the kind of collaborative culture their work demands.
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