Being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds.

We all want to lead lives and careers full of joy and fulfillment. Maggie Baird certainly has, and the key, she says, is to stay open to new possibilities and “let your passion lead.”

Baird is an accomplished actress, improv teacher at the Groundlings Theater, mother to music sensations Billie Eilish and Phineas, and founder of Support and Feed, a nonprofit addressing food equity and the climate crisis. Through it all, she has embodied the improv principle of "Yes, and..." — being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds. “I have done many things,” she says, “but I never approached any of them as a career change. They all came out of new interests and new experiences.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Baird joins host Matt Abrahams to explore the critical role of communication in developing a career, and how improv principles can help us engage, as Baird says, “From a place of open-heartedness, appreciation, [and] collaboration.”

Episode Reference Links:

• Support And Feed
• Ep.118 Maximizing your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You Want
• Ep.1 Speaking Without a Net: How to Master Impromptu Communication
• Ep.9 Quick Think: How Being Present-Oriented Improves Communication

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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces guest Maggie Baird, actor and founder of Support and Feed.

(00:00:53) Career Transitions

Advice on embracing new opportunities without rigid planning.

(00:01:45) Teaching and Confidence Through Improv

Discovering improv and how teaching led to a new sense of confidence and creativity.

(00:04:03) Improv as a Communication Tool

The principles of improv and how they can enhance communication and collaboration.

(00:05:45) Structure and Freedom in Improv

How improv provides structure that frees individuals to speak spontaneously.

(00:07:37) Teaching with Empathy

Empathy in teaching, remembering what it's like to be a beginner, and avoiding jargon.

(00:10:34) Advocacy in the Music Industry

Using questions and collaboration to drive change in the music industry and other sectors.

(00:13:18) Collaboration and Positive Change

The importance of collaboration, positivity, and meeting people where they are to create change.

(00:16:07) The Final Three Questions
Maggie shares her next career change, a communicator she admires, and her ingredients for successful communication.

(00:17:46) Conclusion

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:36) - Career Transitions
• (02:28) - Teaching and Confidence Through Improv
• (04:46) - Improv as a Communication Tool
• (06:28) - Structure and Freedom in Improv
• (08:20) - Teaching with Empathy
• (11:17) - Advocacy in the Music Industry
• (14:01) - Collaboration and Positive Change
• (16:50) - The Final Three Questions
• (18:29) - Conclusion