Creativity and Compliance: Compliance 6-Pack: Part 1 - The Role of Improv in Compliance

Creativity and Compliance: Compliance 6-Pack: Part 1 – The Role of Improv in Compliance

April 24, 2026

Tom and Ronnie begin a six-part series highlighting the role of improv in compliance and the key tools and strategies Ronnie has brought from his former world of improv into the corporate compliance communications realm. In today’s Improv & Compliance Lesson 1: “Got Your Back” and Psychological Safety.

Ronnie defines psychological safety as the belief that employees won’t be punished for raising ideas, questions, mistakes, or concerns, and explains how improv teams deliberately practice support—often physically telling one another “I’ve got your back”—to enable creative freedom. They draw parallels to compliance programs by emphasizing proactive, frequent promotion of reporting channels, anti-retaliation messaging, and the use of short, interesting, creative formats (e.g., stories, songs, commercials) to avoid message fatigue. Tom adds that organizations must “walk the walk” by preventing retaliation and reinforcing the message throughout investigations. Ronnie also emphasizes humanizing the ethics and compliance team to create an “ensemble” feel.

Resources:

Ronnie

Learnings & Entertainments (Website)
Compliance Confessions – inspired by “Mean Tweets,” these 90-second commercials address misconceptions and excuses to promote a speak up culture and the E&C team as positive and helpful.
E&C Training Jams – a soulful singer banters with ethics & compliance explaining policies, sharing examples, and debunking excuses.
Tales from the Hotline – Real, speak-up-themed stories about workplace behavior gone wrong.
Workplace Tonight Show! – E&C meets SNL Weekend Update, explaining corporate risk topics and why employees should care.
60-Second Communication & Awareness Shorts – A variety of short, customizable, music and multimedia, quick-hitter “commercials” promoting integrity, compliance, speaking up, and the E&C team as helpful advisors and coaches.
Custom Live & Digital Programing – Custom creative programming that balances the seriousness of the subject matter with a more engaging delivery. After all, you can’t bore people into learning.