The Play Lab: Presence, Trust & Creative Intelligence

Core Value Proposition

Transformation Delivered:
Participants move from overthinking and hesitation to confident, present, and responsive communication, developing stronger trust, adaptability, and creative problem-solving skills over time.

Who Benefits:
This program benefits teams, leaders, creatives, and organizations seeking improved collaboration, engagement, and resilience in dynamic or high-pressure environments.

Unique Selling Proposition:
By integrating improvisation and clowning into a structured, professional framework, the program offers a rare combination of rigor and play, creating lasting behavioral change through embodied, experiential and creative learning rather than traditional training methods.

Ideal Participants

1.Teams, departments, or cross-functional groups seeking stronger collaboration, trust, and alignment

2. Leaders and managers aiming to improve presence, communication, and decision-making under pressure

3. Creative professionals or project teams looking to enhance innovation, adaptability, and problem-solving skills

4. Organizations investing in employee engagement, wellbeing, and team cohesion
Individuals interested in personal development, confidence-building, and professional growth

Participant Outcomes

Participants will:
1. Communicate with greater clarity, presence, and confidence in group and leadership settings
2. Demonstrate improved listening skills and responsiveness to others’ ideas
3. Navigate uncertainty and change with increased adaptability and resilience
4. Collaborate more effectively, contributing to stronger team cohesion and trust
5. Apply creative problem-solving strategies in real-time, high-pressure situations
6. Reduce stress responses by managing nervous energy and staying grounded
7. Engage more actively and authentically in collaborative processes
8. Translate embodied learning into practical tools for everyday professional contexts

Organizational / Employer Benefits

1. Stronger Team Performance and Collaboration
Improves communication, trust, and alignment across teams, leading to more effective collaboration and decision-making.
2. Increased Employee Engagement and Motivation
Encourages active participation, ownership, and psychological safety, supporting a more connected and motivated workforce.
3. Enhanced Adaptability and Innovation
Builds creative flexibility and responsiveness, enabling teams to navigate change, uncertainty, and complex challenges more effectively.
4. Improved Leadership and Communication Skills
Strengthens presence, listening, and clarity in leadership interactions, presentations, and cross-functional collaboration.
5. Reduced Stress and Burnout Risk
Supports emotional regulation and resilience, contributing to employee wellbeing and long-term sustainability.
6. Positive Workplace Culture and Retention
Fosters trust, empathy, and inclusion, helping organizations build healthier cultures and retain talent.

Phases / Modules Details

Module 1: Foundations of Play & Presence
Format: In-person
Key Activities / Methods:
Warm-up games and icebreakers
Basic improv exercises (Yes, And; active listening; ensemble response)
Clowning warm-ups: movement, voice, and playful exploration
Expected Outcomes:
Increased comfort with play and improvisation
Participants begin to observe their own patterns and reactions
Early development of trust within the group
Unique Insights / Thematic Focus:
Play as a tool for awareness and presence
Embracing imperfection as a strength
Integration / Homework:
Reflection journal on moments of presence and risk-taking
Small daily “micro-play” exercises to notice reactions and habits

Module 2: Collaboration & Creative Problem-Solving
Format: In-person
Key Activities / Methods:
Team-based improv exercises emphasizing listening and response
Ensemble games that require coordination and real-time problem solving
Collaborative creative challenges (physical, verbal, or idea-based)
Expected Outcomes:
Improved communication and group dynamics
Ability to co-create solutions under uncertainty
Stronger team cohesion and trust
Unique Insights / Thematic Focus:
Innovation emerges from playful experimentation and collaboration
Collective intelligence is enhanced through embodied interaction
Integration / Homework:
Participants practice applying improvisational approaches to a work scenario
Optional micro-challenges to try with colleagues before next session

Module 3: Personal Brand & Authentic Expression
Format: In-person
Key Activities / Methods:
Clowning exercises for self-discovery and emotional presence
Individual reflection exercises on strengths, style, and personal brand
Public-speaking or presentation simulations using clowning tools
Expected Outcomes:
Increased confidence and authenticity in communication
Greater clarity about personal style and unique strengths
Comfort leveraging individuality in collaborative or public contexts
Unique Insights / Thematic Focus:
Vulnerability and imperfection are strategic tools, not weaknesses
Self-awareness enhances leadership, creativity, and teamwork
Integration / Homework:
Reflection on “personal brand moments” in daily work
Optional practice exercises for presence and expressive confidence

Optional Module 4: Integration & Application
Format: In-person
Key Activities / Methods:
Group exercises that combine warm-ups, team problem-solving, and personal brand
Facilitated reflection connecting learnings to workplace challenges
Development of a small team project or presentation applying program tools
Expected Outcomes:
Participants consolidate skills across all modules
Teams leave with actionable strategies for collaboration, creativity, and presence
Unique Insights / Thematic Focus:
Integration of play, creativity, and authenticity into professional practice
Integration / Homework:
Individual and team action plan for applying program principles in real work scenarios

Typical Session Structure & Flow

Session 1 – Foundations of Play & Presence
Agenda: Arrival → Check-in → Warm-up → Core Activities → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Icebreakers, simple clown and improv games, movement warm-ups
Reflection & Integration: Journal or micro-play reflection on presence and comfort
Energy Flow: Gentle opening → playful → grounded reflection
Continuity: Introduces presence, trust, and self-awareness
Session 2 – Listening & Ensemble Awareness
Agenda: Check-in → Warm-up → Core → Core → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Partner and group improv, attention exercises
Reflection & Integration: Insights on listening and responsiveness
Energy Flow: Playful → medium-high → calm grounding
Continuity: Builds on awareness, introduces group responsiveness
Session 3 – Trust & Collaboration
Agenda: Check-in → Warm-up → Core → Core → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Ensemble games, cooperative problem-solving, trust exercises
Reflection & Integration: Identify moments of risk-taking and teamwork
Energy Flow: Gentle → high energy → grounded
Continuity: Reinforces trust, team cohesion, and safe risk-taking
Session 4 – Creative Problem-Solving
Agenda: Check-in → Warm-up → Core → Core → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Scenario-based improv, group challenges
Reflection & Integration: Apply creativity under pressure to team situations
Energy Flow: Playful → high engagement → calm
Continuity: Applies prior trust and listening skills to problem-solving
Session 5 – Personal Expression & Brand
Agenda: Check-in → Warm-up → Core → Core → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Clowning for self-discovery, voice & movement exercises, mini-presentations
Reflection & Integration: Discover personal style and authenticity
Energy Flow: Gentle → exploratory → calm
Continuity: Introduces individual authenticity within the group context
Session 6 – Applying Skills in Teams
Agenda: Check-in → Warm-up → Core → Core → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Team improv challenges, collaborative projects
Reflection & Integration: Connect learnings to workplace or team goals
Energy Flow: Medium-high → sustained → grounded
Continuity: Integrates presence, trust, and creative problem-solving
Session 7 – Integration & Advanced Practice
Agenda: Check-in → Warm-up → Core → Core → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Complex ensemble challenges, improvisation games combining prior modules
Reflection & Integration: Consolidate growth in cohesion, confidence, and creativity
Energy Flow: Sustained high → playful → grounded
Continuity: Consolidates all previous skills
Session 8 – Program Wrap-Up & Action Plan
Agenda: Check-in → Warm-up → Core → Core → Reflection → Closing
Core Activities: Capstone team activity, group sharing, action planning
Reflection & Integration: Define individual and team action plans to apply learnings in real work contexts
Energy Flow: Open → high energy → calm celebration
Continuity: Full integration of awareness, cohesion, personal insight, and practical application
Notes:
Total Hours: 16 (8 sessions × 2 hours)
Format: In-person, virtual, or hybrid
Props & Materials: Clown noses, balls, worksheets, writing sheets, and playful tools
Participant Progression: Awareness → Cohesion → Creative Skill → Personal Insight
Energy Management: Open gently → build playful/high energy → grounded reflection → close calm
Variations: Adapted to group size, environment, pacing, and experience level

Final Culmination / Deliverable

At the end of the program, participants will complete a Personal Brand & Team Integration Sheet, a practical, reflective tool that captures:
Who they are — personal strengths, style, and unique contributions
What they bring to the team — skills, approaches, and creative problem-solving strategies
Key insights — lessons from the program on presence, resilience, and collaboration
Action steps — how to apply their awareness, personal brand, and team learnings in real work scenarios

Experience Outcome:
Participants leave with clarity on their personal brand and value
They feel more connected to themselves and their team
They are resilient, open to new ideas, and equipped to apply creativity and collaboration in their workplace

What’s Included

1. 8 facilitated sessions (2 hours each) with structured improv and clowning activities
2. All session materials, including clown noses, balls, writing sheets, and other game props
3. Experiential exercises and guided reflection connecting learning to teamwork and communication
4. Curriculum tailored to group size, goals, and skill levels
5. Guidance for applying insights between sessions and sustaining team growth

Provided by You

1. Props & Materials
Clown noses, balls, and other playful tools for improvisation and movement exercises
Worksheets and writing sheets for reflection, exercises, and personal brand exploration
Guided Facilitation & Expertise

2. 8 sessions (2 hours each) led by Alejandra Giraldo, MFA-trained actor with international experience in clowning, theatre, and improv

3. Step-by-step guidance for exercises, reflection, and application to professional or team contexts
Personal Brand & Team Integration Sheet

4. A tangible deliverable capturing personal strengths, style, contributions, insights, and action steps
Designed to be used as a reference for ongoing professional development

5. Experiential Learning
Hands-on exercises in improv, clowning, and movement
Individual and group activities to build confidence, creativity, collaboration, and resilience

6. Reflection & Takeaways
Facilitated discussion and debrief at the end of each session
Key lessons, insights, and strategies documented during exercises for participants to apply at work

7. Optional Add-Ons (if requested)
Custom follow-up sessions, extra coaching, or tailored modules
Additional materials for participants if needed (extra props or handouts)

Add-ons & Customization

Additional Coaching Sessions (1:1 or small team): $150–$250 per hour

Extra Module / Deep Dive (e.g., Leadership, Innovation, or Creativity Lab): $400–$600 per 2-hour session

Curriculum Customization for Specific Industry or Company Culture: $250–$500 flat fee

On-Site Delivery / Travel Outside Los Angeles Base: Travel fee $100–$250

Custom Follow-Up or Refresh Session (6–12 months later): $350–$500 per 90–120 min session

Required from Client

Space
An empty, open space large enough for movement, team exercises, and group interaction
Minimum 20–30 m² (or approx. 200–300 sq ft) for small-to-medium groups
Safe flooring for physical activity (carpet, dance floor, or cleared area)

Scheduling & Participation
A dedicated, uninterrupted 2-hour block per session
Participants fully present and committed — this program works best when teams engage seriously
Consistent weekly schedule for the full program (recommended 8 weeks) to maintain continuity and progression

Equipment & Comfort
Comfortable clothing for participants that allows movement
Optional: access to tables or chairs for writing exercises

Environment
Distraction-free area to foster focus, trust, and engagement

Notes:
The program balances fun with serious team and personal development, so it’s crucial that participants treat sessions as dedicated team-building and skill development time.
Proper scheduling and a supportive environment maximize impact, cohesion, and learning outcomes.

Measurable Outcomes

Participant-Level:

Confidence & Self-Awareness: Self-reported via short surveys or reflection sheets before and after the program.
Communication Quality: Observable improvements in clarity, active listening, and responsiveness during exercises.
Creative Engagement: Participation levels, initiative, and willingness to take risks in improv and problem-solving activities.
Personal Brand Clarity: Completion and articulation of the Personal Brand & Team Integration Sheet.

Team-Level:

Cohesion & Trust: Observed collaboration, mutual support, and responsiveness in group activities.
Collaboration Quality: Ability to make decisions, solve problems, and co-create in team exercises.
Psychological Safety: Comfort in expressing ideas, making suggestions, or taking risks during sessions.

How Impact Can Be Measured

Pre- and Post-Program Pulse Surveys: Simple questionnaires rating confidence, teamwork, creativity, and engagement.
Session Feedback Forms: Short qualitative feedback after each session on learnings, insights, and engagement.
Facilitator Observations: Behavioral indicators like participation, risk-taking, communication, and collaboration noted during sessions.

Program Files