Overcoming managers' perceptual shortcuts through improvisational theater games

Purpose – To present an improvisational theater game (ITG) workshop design that allows participants to surface their perceptual shortcuts, practice alternative behaviors, overcome biases, and expand their repertoire of managerial skills. Design/methodology/approach – The ITGs described in this paper were originally presented by the authors to management professionals in US classroom settings from approximately 1995 through the present. Findings – Managerial processes involving interpersonal communications are imperfect because they are greatly influenced by perception. Perception often involves shortcuts, however, which may have significant negative effects on managerial functions, but these effects can be mitigated by applying ITGs – a particularly effective method of arts‐based experiential learning – to management development. Research limitations/implications – This is not an all‐inclusive workshop design of ITGs for management development, but one example for practitioners' use. Many other ITGs exist outside of this design. Also, this workshop was tested and presented in the USA only, thus its utility in other countries cannot be generalized from the findings. Practical implications – A step‐by‐step guide on conducting ITG workshops, with a discussion of how and why they can be effective. Originality/value – This paper provides detailed technical resources for practitioners who wish to incorporate ITGs in their management development programs.