Exploring Terra Incognita

Hey, welcome to EnCompass Improv, and thanks for reading the blog!

In this space, we’ll be discussing why we do what we do, and a lot of how we do it, as well.

To start, I want to introduce myself. I’m Nick Trotter, the founder and principal consultant of the company. I’m a Denver native with a background in theater and geography, and you can read more details on the About page.

But here, I want to talk about improv, and why it’s what I love to do.

What I find so intoxicating is the unknown.

The discoveries that I get to make when I relax, free my mind, and get into the flow: evocative images; thoughts that seem to come from a character, not from myself; hilarious juxtapositions; or stories with their own internal logic. These ideas are so mysterious. Where do they come from? What do they mean? Why did I (of all people!) come up with them?

And the answer is: I don’t know! I don’t know the answers to any of those questions! At least, not in general. I mean, they come from my own mind, but what the heck is a “mind,” anyway, right?!

I don’t think even philosophers and neuropsychologists know the answer to that.

This is what’s so fascinating about improv, and also so terrifying.

Especially in group situations, especially in front of peers or “superiors,” and especially at work, where our livelihoods are at stake.

We’re understandably cautious about new ideas, but we’ve been taught over the years to be especially afraid of bad ideas. Because at best, they’re boring or useless. But they might also be wrong, stupid, or even harmful.

None of us wants to be wrong.

None of us wants to be stupid.

None of us wants boring or useless.

But if we don’t risk those things, we usually shut off all new ideas. Because that’s what’s safe, right?

And neuropsychologists do know that our brain works really hard to keep us safe.

But when we shut off new ideas, we shut off progress. We shut off discovery. We shut off “creativity” (whatever that is.)

Terra incognita was the term on old maps for parts of the Earth that hadn’t been explored by Europeans. It means “unknown land” in Latin, and was often accompanied by phrases like “here there be monsters!” And of course these were all myths, but it shows the pretty common human history of fearing the unknown. Because what lay in that unmapped territory might really be a problem.

But it might also be an incredible adventure.

If we don’t risk being boring, can we ever really know what’s interesting?

If we don’t risk being a little stupid, can we ever really learn what’s smart?

If we don’t risk being wrong, can we ever really know what’s right?

Isn’t staying right where we are, in fact, the biggest risk of all?

EnCompass Improv is here to help you explore, and navigate, and map the unknown parts of yourself, your team at work, and your business. We have really fun tools, usually in the form of games, to get people relaxing, having fun, taking risks (small ones, at first) and learning to trust themselves and the people around them.

Because when we’re doing all that together, we discover things that we never could have found on our own.

And that’s progress!