Can Improv Make You Your 1st Million? - Insights from Neil Mullarkey

EP 404 - Can improv and humour make you a better leader - and even grow your bottom line? Neil Mullarkey (Comedy Store Players co-founder with Mike Myers, seen on Whose Line Is It Anyway and Austin Powers) shows how improv’s “Yes, And” mindset, listening with intent, and affiliative humour boost leadership, sales, creativity, and team culture.We unpack practical tools Neil teaches at London Business School and in boardrooms across 25+ countries: running better meetings and Zooms, building psychological safety, using Pixar-style “plussing,” navigating change, and why funny people make better leaders.What you’ll learn:How improv drives creativity, collaboration, and faster decisionsThe difference between affiliative vs. dis-affiliative humour (and why banter can backfire)Listening with intent: the leadership meta-skill that wins deals and trustRunning high-energy meetings (in-person & remote): chat prompts, quick polls, and participation hacksWhy “Yes, And” beats rigid scripts for sales, client work, and stakeholder buy-in*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Neil Mullarkey01:20 Neil's Journey in Comedy and Improv05:42 The Birth of Comedy Store Players08:12 Improv Techniques and Their Applications19:13 Improv in Business and Leadership24:05 Effective Meeting Strategies32:31 Innovative Meeting Strategies33:35 The Role of Improv in Leadership36:07 Handling Resistance and Transformation41:45 Humour in the Workplace47:32 Improv Skills for Personal Growth56:27 Quickfire - Get To Know Neil57:54 !Business or Bullshit Quiz!businesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - [email protected]

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