I recently started facilitating an experimental new professional development program called Slide Deck Improv, and today I am excited to introduce you to two of partners in crime in this venture, Kristen Rampe and Jason Lieu.Kristen is the creator of Slide Deck Improv, a 10-year veteran of public accounting, and the owner of Kristen Rampe Consulting. Jason actually worked for Kristen during his short tenure as an accountant, but he left the profession to pursue improv and acting. Now he’s back in the professional services field as a fellow facilitator for Slide Deck Improv.So what is Slide Deck Improv?

 It’s the most fun way to improve your presentation skills and gain confidence in your abilities, all while practicing the life skill that is improvisation.Slide Deck Improv combines the basic concepts of business communication and improvisation with practical – and fun – hands-on exercises.The groups take part in improv games, culminating in the titular event: people take turns coming onstage, the audience chooses a topic, and then the presenter has to prepare a presentation on that topic using a slide deck they’ve never seen before.In the process, presenters get an opportunity to take a risk in a safe environment, while practicing new communication and storytelling skills.“I think one of the beautiful things about improv is that it shows you what you actually do know and what you actually have internalized; to have a little bit more faith in your abilities and to not feel so insecure in a public realm,” Jason says. “I think a lot of us feel like we can't do it, we don't know how to do it, we don't trust our instincts. [But Slide Deck Improv] opens up a whole new realm for people.”I fell in love with this program the very first time I saw it, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of it. Because we’re not just teaching business communications skills, we’re teaching everyday life skills.Improv is all about connecting with your audience, no matter who the audience is. It could be your customers, clients, a sales team, family, strangers, whatever – at the end of the day, it comes to people talking to people. And if you can connect with and engage people, you're going to have this newfound confidence in your abilities.If you want to see Slide Deck Improv firsthand, check out these videos of their past presentations  on YouTube.Resources:

Learn more at slidedeckimprov.comFollow Slide Deck Improv: LinkedIn | Facebook | TwitterWant to do this yourself? Learn more about the upcoming Small Group DIY Kit --Change Your Mindset is produced by Podcast Masters