So Meta: An Improvisation Technique For Thinking About Thinking

Kat Koppett says she always has three thoughts at once. Sometimes more, but at least three. An improviser, consultant, trainer and author who is founder and CEO of Koppett — a company that designs and facilitates group learning experiences, provides powerful coaching and kick-ass keynotes — Kat is a thought leader in the field of Applied Improvisation. In a recent conversation about an improv exercise called “Inside Out” she presented at the 2021 Applied Improvisation Network World Conference with her colleague and co-developer of the exercise Dion Flynn, her “out loud” observation that she always has at least three thoughts was on point. You might even say it was meta. Because “Inside Out” is a way to think out loud about what we are thinking— meta-cognition — the practice of which boosts awareness of what motivates, irritates, inspires and intrigues us and is linked to expanded capacity for learning and change, increased flexibility in the cognitive process, and enhanced capacity to learn and apply prior knowledge to new problems.

Any of might have three or more co-occurring thoughts about the same situation in a given moment. Many real life scenarios present competing demands for our attention, or conflict with the person in front of us at the same time we have to perform as a professional, partner or parent. This relatively simple…