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It’s time once again to add to my “Trivia Questions For…” expert interview series, where I get the chance to ask relevant questions to leading authorities in corporate team building, workplace issues, HR topics, trivia, entertainment and more. This month I’ve been shining the spotlight on a select group of event entertainers, whom I am privileged to work with on a regular basis: TrivWorks’ “Special Talent” event hosts!

Rob Schiffmann and I met earlier this year, and it’s been an incredible partnership from the start. An award-winning improvisation coach, he also serves as director, producer and a performer with Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, an improvised musical comedy show which we have combined with trivia to create a truly unique corporate event entertainment offering (follow this link for more on that). In addition to being an extraordinarily talented performer and comedian/emcee, Rob is also a veteran trainer, with 20 years of experience working with company groups large and small nationwide. Together, we recently developed a new line of trivia-based corporate training programs, combining team trivia challenges, improvisation, and practical exercises to address specific workplace skills.

Rob brings such incredible expertise to TrivWorks, and it is truly an honor to be working with him. We got the chance to sit down together recently, and I asked him some questions about his unique areas of expertise. Enjoy!

You’ve been in the corporate training world for a long time. What are people hungry for? What workplace skills need development now more than ever?

Narrative/storytelling seems to be a big topic right now. People are interested in how to tell a story in order to sell more effectively. With the use of story, we are able to personalize our pitch and put in a familiar context to the listener, and thus it is a useful technique.

What are the main challenges inherent with workplace training, both as an instructor as well as for participants?

I think the main challenge is that experienced folks are used to doing things in a certain way, and sometimes thinking “outside the box” can feel threatening. However, once we take that leap, we realize that it’s only a matter of re-framing what we already know and do to make it that much more effective.

Team building, “soft skills” seminars, etc. often get a bad rap. Why should these training programs be important to bosses whose jobs are to maximize productivity & profit?

Because life is made of “soft skills.” To be a better listener or communicator, IS to be a better leader.

In addition to being a trainer, you are an acclaimed improvisation coach/performer and highly experienced professional comedian/emcee. How do you integrate improvisation & humor into your training, and to what effect?

Many of the skills of improvisation overlap with sales/management/team training. So, it’s an easy fit. To improvise well, we must listen, support, and be flexible in the moment. Thus, the training makes sense in a corporate context. As for humor, it only serves to make learning that much more palatable and fun!

Your new collaboration with TrivWorks provides focused skills training by combining practical workshops, improvisation, and customized team trivia. How is this effective, and why?

Because it’s engaging, interactive and super fun! Participants are kept on their toes and forced to work in a team context. The bonding is inherent, as is the learning.

Can you think of ONE trivia question which our readers might enjoy?

How many miles are traveled in one second when traveling at the speed of light?!?!

To learn more about Rob, visit his Website www.RobSchiffmann.com.