Plot Twist — Composure When the Plan Falls Apart
Applied improvisation for composure
Every team has a plot twist - the pushback nobody prepped for, the question that lands sideways, the second the plan falls apart. Most training tells people what to do in that moment. Plot Twist lets them practice…
Workshop
Description
Every team has a plot twist - the pushback nobody prepped for, the question that lands sideways, the second the plan falls apart. Most training tells people what to do in that moment. Plot Twist lets them practice it. This hands-on applied-improv lab has your people rehearse the split-second between what they planned to say and what actually happens and learn to stay clear, calm, and credible when it does.
Through fast, laughter-first improv reps (no acting or comedy pressure), they train the exact muscles that keep them steady when the stakes rise. Every exercise is “translated to Tuesday”, mapped straight back to their real meetings, pitches, and hard conversations. Voice-controlled and movement-optional, it works for the most senior, guarded room as easily as a creative one and everyone leaves a little braver.
Benefits
- Composure under pressure i.e. fewer freezes, fewer rambles, fewer defensive reactions
- The ability to think and respond in real time, not just prepare
- A steadier voice and presence in high-stakes moments
- Tools to recover instantly when a conversation goes sideways
- A shared language for staying grounded together as a team
- A genuinely fun, energizing experience that bonds the room
Hosted by Shalini Haridoss
About the Host
Shalini Haridoss is the founder and lead facilitator of Unscripted Labs — an improviser and applied-improv facilitator who turns play into practice. Unusually for this work, she's also a Certified Fraud Examiner with a background in risk, which gives her a rare credibility in the room, her sessions are as at home with a guarded leadership team as a creative one.
Through Unscripted Labs she designs experiential sessions called "Labs," where teams don't just sit and listen or take notes, they get on their feet, practice play, and rediscover how to think, speak, and connect under pressure. Everything runs on her signature S.T.A.G.E.™ Method, which distills improvisation into usable tools for presence, adaptability, and psychological safety. No performance or comedy pressure. What makes her rooms work is that they feel effortless while doing genuinely hard behavioral work. People leave saying both "I can't believe how much we laughed" and "I can't believe how much we got done."
A Toastmasters public speaker and bilingual comedian, Shalini knows how to run a room. She runs monthly public Labs and facilitates for corporate teams and kids alike, leaving every group energized, closer, and a little braver and building a community that genuinely enjoys working together. Her work has taken her to stages and teams at Google, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, the ACFE Global Conference, and Rotary.
Client Requirements
Minimal. In-person: A room where people can sit in a loose circle or pods of 6-8 and/or semi circle; a side table; a microphone. No stage, no AV requirements. Virtual: A platform with breakout rooms and chat.
Focus Areas
Creative/CultureDevelopment/Coaching
Location
Languages
English
Travel Locations
NYC & Tri-state (NJ, NY, CT, PA); open to national and international for half/full/multi-day engagements
Corporate Experience
Moderate
Certifications & Credentials
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE); Toastmasters public speaker; Improv trained from NJSDA
Session Types Offered
Interactive (eg. improv, group-art, yoga etc.)
Past Experience Doing Sessions
Yes - Interactive
Past Clients
Global Conference Speaker on Applied Improvisation; Performed for Palo Alto network, Cisco, Google, Rotary
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