Top 12 Solo Improv Exercises to Try for Boosting Your Social Confidence on Zoom Calls
Let's be honest: staring at a grid of faces on a Zoom call can feel more like an interrogation than a conversation. The awkward silences, the fear of interrupting, the pressure to say something smart—it’s enough to make even the most outgoing person feel a little tongue-tied. We spend our days connecting through screens, but this new normal has created a unique brand of social anxiety. How do you project confidence when you're just a tiny box on a screen?
The answer, surprisingly, might be found in the world of improvisational theater. Improv isn't just about being funny; it's the art of being present, thinking on your feet, and building connections from scratch. It’s a workout for your social muscles. The best part? You don’t need a stage or an audience to reap the benefits. By practicing solo improv exercises, you can build the mental agility and self-assurance to handle any virtual interaction with grace and style.
Think of these exercises as your personal communication gym. They are low-stakes, fun, and designed to help you break free from self-consciousness. They teach you to trust your own ideas, embrace spontaneity, and become a more dynamic and engaging virtual communicator. Ready to turn Zoom dread into Zoom-ready confidence? Let's dive in.
1. The Object Monologue
Look around your room right now and pick a random object. A coffee mug, a stapler, a wilting plant—anything. Now, your task is to give that object a voice and a point of view. For one minute, speak as the object. What has it seen today? What are its biggest dreams or deepest fears? Does the stapler feel underappreciated? Is the coffee mug proud of its unchipped rim?
This exercise forces you to generate ideas from nothing, a core skill in any spontaneous conversation. It stretches your creative muscles and proves you can talk about literally anything. By stepping into a different perspective, you also practice empathy and storytelling, making your contributions to any discussion more interesting and memorable.
- Zoom Application: Ever been in a meeting where the conversation lulls, and you're desperately trying to think of something to say? The Object Monologue trains you to find interesting angles in everyday topics. You'll become better at making small talk, adding a creative spin to a brainstorm, or simply keeping the conversation flowing naturally.
2. "Yes, And..." Yourself
"Yes, And..." is the golden rule of improv. It's about accepting what's been said (the "Yes") and then building upon it (the "And"). You can easily do this by yourself. Start with a simple statement, like, "I'm going to the park." Then, "Yes, And..." it. "Yes, I'm going to the park, and I'm going to teach squirrels how to do my taxes." Continue building on your own wild ideas for a few minutes.
The goal isn't to be logical, but to keep the momentum going. This exercise trains your brain to be additive and positive, rather than shutting down ideas (including your own). It fights the internal editor that whispers, "That's a dumb idea, don't say it." Practicing "Yes, And..." helps you become a more collaborative and supportive conversationalist.
- Zoom Application: In a team brainstorm or a casual chat, being the person who builds on others' ideas is invaluable. Instead of just saying "good idea," you'll be primed to say, "Yes, that's a great point, and we could also consider..." It makes you an active, engaged participant who elevates the entire conversation.
3. The Gibberish Translator
This is one of my favorites for breaking out of your shell. The goal is to convey a clear message using only gibberish—a completely made-up language. Pick a scenario: you're a frantic chef explaining a complex recipe, a scientist announcing a major discovery, or a tourist asking for directions. Now, "speak" to yourself in the mirror or your webcam using pure gibberish.
The magic here is that you're forced to communicate with everything but your words. You have to rely on your tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures to get your point across. You'll quickly realize how much you can say without saying anything at all. It's liberating and incredibly effective for developing your non-verbal communication skills.
- Zoom Application: On a video call, your body language is confined to a small square. Your vocal tone and facial expressions do the heavy lifting. This exercise makes you a master of "above-the-shoulders" communication, ensuring you appear engaged, empathetic, and clear, even when you’re not the one speaking.
4. Expert Panel of One
Choose a completely mundane topic you know almost nothing about—the history of doorknobs, the physics of a well-thrown paper airplane, the social hierarchy of pigeons. Set a timer for 60 seconds and present yourself as the world's foremost expert on that topic. Use jargon you invent on the spot, cite fake studies, and speak with unwavering authority.
This isn't about being right; it's about sounding confident. The exercise trains you to organize your thoughts quickly and present them with conviction. It helps you get comfortable with the sound of your own voice and reduces the fear of "not knowing enough." As my friend and mentor Goh Ling Yong often emphasizes, confidence is a skill that can be practiced, and this exercise is a perfect example of that principle in action.
- Zoom Application: Have you ever been asked for your opinion unexpectedly in a meeting? This drill prepares you for that exact moment. You'll be better equipped to structure your thoughts on the fly and deliver your input with a calm, authoritative presence that makes people listen.
5. Emotional Rollercoaster
Pick a simple, neutral sentence like, "I have to go to the post office later." First, say it normally. Then, say it again, but this time, say it as if you're overjoyed. Now, say it as if you're furious. Try fearful, suspicious, deeply sad, and ridiculously excited. Go through as many emotions as you can.
The point is to practice modulating your vocal tone to convey different feelings. So often, especially on virtual calls, our voices can flatten into a monotone, making us sound disengaged or bored. This exercise expands your vocal range and makes you more aware of the emotional color you can add to your words.
- Zoom Application: A dynamic voice keeps people engaged. Whether you're presenting a project update or sharing a weekend story, using vocal variety will make you a more compelling and interesting speaker. It helps ensure your key points land with the intended emotional impact.
6. Alphabet Conversation
Here's a fun mental warm-up. Pick a topic and talk about it out loud, but with a rule: each sentence must begin with the next letter of the alphabet. For example, on the topic of "coffee": Always, I need a cup first thing in the morning. Because without it, I'm basically a zombie. Certainly, the best kind is a dark roast. Don't you agree?
This is harder than it sounds! It forces you to think creatively under pressure and make quick connections between ideas. It's a fantastic drill for mental agility and helps you avoid getting stuck when you're searching for the right word.
- Zoom Application: This exercise enhances your ability to transition smoothly between topics in a conversation. You'll become quicker at formulating sentences and responding to questions, which helps eliminate those dreaded "ums" and "ahs."
7. Last Word, First Word
This is a great game for building associative thinking. Say a sentence. Then, take the very last word of that sentence and use it to begin your next sentence. For example: "I need to water my plants today. Today is going to be a very busy day. Day-dreaming is one of my favorite hobbies. Hobbies are essential for a balanced life."
This exercise trains your brain to find connections and build conversational threads. It improves your listening skills (even when just listening to yourself) and helps you see how one idea can flow naturally into the next. It’s all about creating a chain of thought rather than a series of disconnected statements.
- Zoom Application: This skill is perfect for active listening in meetings. When a colleague finishes speaking, your brain will be primed to pick up on their last point and build on it, showing that you were paying attention and can contribute thoughtfully to the discussion.
8. Character Endowment
Before you hop on your next call, give yourself a simple, secret character trait. It could be "the most curious person in the world," "someone who just won a small, secret lottery," or "an adventurer who just returned from the jungle." You don't have to act like a caricature, just hold that simple attitude or perspective in your mind.
This technique, often used by actors, helps you get out of your own head. By adopting a slightly different persona, you can shed some of your own social inhibitions. If you're playing the "most curious person," you'll naturally find yourself asking more questions. If you're the "secret lottery winner," you might bring a more relaxed and positive energy to the call.
- Zoom Application: This is a powerful mindset trick to manage social anxiety. It gives you a simple focus point beyond "I hope I don't sound stupid." It can subtly shift your energy, making you appear more engaged, positive, or inquisitive, which in turn makes interactions more enjoyable.
9. Three-Line Scene
Challenge yourself to tell a complete story in just three sentences: a beginning, a middle, and an end. For example: "The detective found a single red glove at the crime scene. He soon discovered the glove's owner was the victim's identical twin. In the end, it was a case of sibling rivalry gone too far."
This exercise is a masterclass in concise communication. It teaches you to get to the point, identify the most important parts of a message, and structure your thoughts logically. In a world of rambling meetings, the ability to be clear and brief is a superpower.
- Zoom Application: When it's your turn to give an update, this skill is invaluable. Instead of meandering, you'll be able to deliver a clear, structured summary that everyone can understand and appreciate. It shows respect for everyone's time.
10. "What Are You Doing?" Physicality
This exercise connects your body and your brain. Start by miming a simple physical activity, like brushing your teeth. After a few seconds, ask yourself out loud, "What are you doing?" Then, answer with something completely unrelated to what you were miming, like, "I'm climbing Mount Everest." Immediately, you must switch your miming to the new activity.
This game breaks down the barrier between thinking and doing, encouraging spontaneity. For Zoom, it's a great way to get comfortable with being more physically expressive on camera. You become more aware of your gestures and how they can be used to add energy and emphasis to your words.
- Zoom Application: People who use natural hand gestures and have an animated presence on camera are inherently more engaging to watch. This exercise helps you move beyond being a static head-and-shoulders shot and become a more dynamic and expressive communicator.
11. Story Spine
The Story Spine is a classic storytelling framework used by companies like Pixar. It follows a simple structure: "Once upon a time... And every day... Until one day... And because of that... And because of that... Until finally..." Practice telling a quick story about your day or a fictional character using this template.
This provides a ready-made structure for your thoughts. It’s a reliable way to organize a narrative, whether you're telling a two-minute anecdote or explaining the background of a complex project. It ensures your story has a clear beginning, a rising action, and a satisfying conclusion.
- Zoom Application: Use this framework to answer questions like "How did this project go?" or to share a customer success story. It helps you tell a compelling, easy-to-follow narrative instead of just listing facts, making your communication far more impactful.
12. Mirror, Mirror (or Webcam, Webcam)
This last one is the most direct practice of all. Simply turn on your webcam's preview window (or use a mirror) and talk to yourself. Practice your "listening face." See what you look like when you're explaining an idea. Practice smiling and making eye contact with the camera lens (not your own face).
It might feel awkward at first, but this exercise desensitizes you to the strange experience of seeing yourself talk on screen. You can spot and correct distracting habits, like touching your face too much or looking away from the camera. As Goh Ling Yong would say, self-awareness is the foundation of improvement, and this exercise provides instant visual feedback.
- Zoom Application: This is the dress rehearsal for every video call you'll ever have. By getting comfortable with your on-screen persona, you'll feel less self-conscious during actual meetings, freeing you up to focus on the conversation instead of how you look.
Your Stage is Set
Confidence on Zoom isn't an innate talent; it's a skill built through practice. These twelve solo improv exercises are your secret weapon. They are fun, simple, and incredibly effective at building the spontaneity, quick-thinking, and self-assurance you need to shine in any virtual setting. You don't have to become a performer—you just have to become a more flexible and present version of yourself.
Start small. Pick one exercise that sounds fun and try it for just two minutes before your next video call. Notice how it warms up your brain and maybe even makes you smile. The more you play, the more natural and confident you'll become.
Now I want to hear from you. Which of these exercises are you most excited to try first? Share your choice in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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