7 rules for improvising at work | Natalie Nixon | TEDxPhiladelphia

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. In an improv jazz combo, each player performs at the top of their game, building a flow of music out of potential chaos -- by listening hard to one another and embracing mistakes. Natalie Nixon lays out the 7 rules of such “chaordic” systems, flirting between order and chaos, and shows how you can borrow from great players to boost your own creative flow.
Natalie Nixon is a hybrid thinker, synthesizing creative and analytical thought processes from design and business to arrive at innovative opportunities. As Director of the Strategic Design MBA program and Associate Professor in Fashion Merchandising & Management at Philadelphia University, she works to connect the dots between theory and practice.

Both a researcher and a practitioner of design thinking, she is a bridge builder to the creative side of strategy. Before she became an educator, she worked in the fashion industry as an entrepreneurial hat designer as well as in apparel sourcing for The Limited Brands in Sri Lanka and Portugal. Natalie’s research helps brands utilize style as a competitive advantage to build brand distinction.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@CraigDeLarge]

I love love love this talk!!! I cannot watch it enough! Was so cool to be at an interview last evening and have happy accident of the manager, hopefully my future manager, telling me that he keeps these concepts on his iPhone, when I mentioned that Barrett's 7. Definitely read the book, Yes to the Mess (Barrett).
Thanks so much for this gift to your father, and we all, Dr. Nixon!

[@KarriemFleming]

Awesome presentation Craig, thanks for sharing!

[@sandrabraddy-hall6113]

Refreshing. A great way to start the day!

[@dannyb343]

Thank you Natalie, this gives me hope.
The ideas and the way of doing things touched on in this talk have inspired, and even validated, my thinking on several levels. Sometimes questioning whether you are on the right or wrong path can create a closed loop. Improvisational thinking can potentially break the loop.

[@andrienwote2477]

Excellent just learned the art of integration on commonly parenthood habits and how that connect to the design thinking and how it quickly lined out with company organization management great thought and fantastic speaker you are thanks Dr. Nixon. Thanks for the 7 rules of improvisation.

[@williamlunderman1605]

Yes, yes Nathalie. You absolutely nailed it, bravo!

[@jenniferrushalski]

Bravo, Natalie. PhilaU in the house! Especially enjoyed the summary at the end- great takeaways.

[@BeenieTV]

Really wonderful how you tied your father into your talk...

[@c.t.d.r.a.8295]

I enjoyed watching this. Thank you!

[@susanaoliva8186]

Loved it, Natalie. Really easy to see how to 'play' this at work.

[@macsoulsby3707]

Well done. Great information. Often business people think things have to happen in a straight line. This proves that is not true.

[@rosalyndursunian1792]

Thanks for sharing Natalie! You are amazing:)

[@anh-thunguyen6080]

Awesome!