Confidence is a quality that many people aspire to possess. Whether it's in social situations, professional settings, or personal growth, confidence can be a game-changer. But how can one boost their confidence, especially if they're naturally reserved or apprehensive? Enter improvisational theatre, or improv, a powerful tool for developing self-assurance.

‘Yes, And’ is the core tenet of improv. It means to accept and build. To be curious rather than judgmental. Try practising positivity and openness with a ‘Yes, And’ connection.

By the same token, failure can often seem to turn up more often the more confident you feel. That’s because failure is often a by-product of your increased risk-taking that confidence inevitably brings. FAFO, as they say on Twitter.

With luck (and not too much self-justification or defensiveness), the right balance of control and confidence means you'll swerve a debilitating mish-mash of controlling behaviour, bravado, bullsh*t and avoidance.

Even high-pressure global Zoom calls can feel oddly cosy at times, I find, since they’re only a couple of clicks away and take place in your WFH office.

Getting old is weird, especially from a work perspective. It strikes me that I won’t be listening to Vera Lynn in the Old Folks’ Home as I’d been ‘sold’ as the norm when I was a kid: I’ll be listening to my first-generation dance music heroes who are now all hitting their 50s and 60s.

Today, please, put yourself first. Take up space. Be difficult. Be loud. No-one’s going to do it for you. Stop trying to make everything work for everyone around you and just please yourself!

“It was thrilling to improvise with people in Nigeria and India in the same session. To open up creativity across borders with V.I. people on continents we haven’t engaged with before was awesome.”

Presentations are tricky and there’s no magic pill. Storms are inevitable. Get comfortable with failure: the process is part of the process. Embrace it!