Corporate Training & Coaching

Neil Curran specialises in the areas of Communication, Public Speaking, Storytelling & Teams. He is also a Professional Improviser, which brings a unique energy and practical approach to his work.

His programmes are custom designed, catering for in-person, virtual and hybrid settings. Neil is know for his practical and supportive approach to work, and his authenticity.

Neil has 20 years of management and corporate experience in an international context. He has led global teams for 18 years having held a senior leadership position in the Irish subsidiary of a multinational organisation. Neil is associate faculty for the Irish Management Institute and a team member of The Core Story Ltd.

Neil has a Masters in Training & Education with his Masters’ Dissertation focusing on Improvisation as a Training Method to Develop Effective Teams. He is also a qualified Executive Coach with EQi Certification and an experienced MC and Speaker.

Get In Touch

neil@lowerthetone.com

sample workshops & programmes

Authentic Speaking & Storytelling

Being a good speaker or presenter is one of the best door openers in our career. It allows us to influence and inspire others. The ability to be an authentic presenter empowers us to be able to connect with both our content and our audience, creating impacting experiences.

Team Building & Development

Improv helps us respect other team member's creativity and ideas while growing greater self-awareness and confidence. Participants quickly realise that collaboration and creating a climate of trust is key to success.

Conscious Communication

Conscious Communication is the skill of speaking with intention. It enhances our communication skills, how we influence and inspire others, have difficult conversation and build and maintain relationships with others.

Testimonials

Neil’s workshop gave the team a heightened on screen/public presence as requested and took some of the more cagey members out of their shells, he himself gave 110% and we would definitely be booking him in again!
Declan Dowling
Gala Networks Europe
I had researched a number of Teambuilding training providers but what Neil pitched to us was exactly what our business was looking for. The feedback we received from the team after the training day was exceptional. The team were highly engaged, pariticipative and comfortable with each other. The team still talks about him today which demonstrated the high level of impact his session had. We cant wait to have him back again
Lead Manager in People Services
O2/Telefonica Ireland
Members of the PopCap International management and business teams participated in a Business Improv Workshop, hosted by Neil Curran. The workshop was very relaxed, informal, well-structured and really a lot of fun. Neil is a natural presenter and moderator and he immediately put everyone at ease. We really enjoyed the workshop and got a lot more out of it than expected. We hope to have Neil come back to run this course again for our other managers and team members.
Aoife Brennan
Popcap Games International Ltd
I highly recommend Neil’s course to anyone with a fear of public speaking or if they suffer from social anxiety. Aside from learning some really valuable skills, feeling brilliant and overcoming my own fears, I met some of the best people and have made some life-long friends. Improv is so liberating! I’m so glad I did it
Anna Shelswell-White
Editor, House & Home Magazine
Improv with Neil proved to be an excellent tool for achieving our goals. Results were fantastic – in our post event survey, this Improv Training earned one of the highest scores of the entire week’s sessions and was without a doubt, one of the best team building sessions we’ve had so far, with excellent feedback across the board (from Senior Director and Manager levels, right through to our newest team members).
Jackie Hughes
Head of EMEA Customer Marketing, Google
Neil has delivered a series of interpersonal skills training sessions using improv as a tool for different groups of staff in the University and the feedback has been excellent. He is incredibly passionate about what he does, instantly creates trust in a group and excels at bringing out the best in people in a safe, thoroughly enjoyable environment. His primary strength is that he approaches each group with a fresh energy and takes people seriously while still enjoying himself.
Naoimh O’Connor
Research Careers Manager, UCD
Improv with Neil surpassed my expectations in many ways. The classes delivered were far more enjoyable and fun than I could have imagined. That was in part due to the nature of improv but in much larger part due to Neil’s skills in teaching, understanding, perception and communication. I was imagining a tuition on how to “do” whose line is it anyway type of scenarios but was surprised to be exploring the barriers that we have constructed as adults. And then I was given the encouragement and space to tear these barriers down and relearn vital skills we had as children. Subsequently life is now viewed through a different prism with a clarity that has more colours and depth of perception than ever before.
Dr. Sim Lew-Gor, Consultant
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin

Frequently asked questions

1What is Improvisation (Improv)?

Improv means actively listening and reacting without pre-planning. It encourages us to be adaptable. We do this throughout the day – E.G. Forced to make a decision without all of the facts, being put on the spot, negotiating a deal, the list goes on. By using the core principles of improvisation – collaboration, communication, creativity and fun – we can react more flexibly and spontaneously while at the same time build our confidence. In the current economic environment, individuals are expected to be highly adaptable and rise to many unseen challenges.

2How Does Improvisation Help with Teambuilding & Team Dynamics in the Workplace?

Improvisation helps individuals to respect other team member’s creativity and ideas. It allows them to cohesively and constructively work in collaboration as part of a team. Participants quickly realise that collaboration is key to success. It’s new, exciting and really pushes people out of their comfort zone, with the results of engagement and productivity taken to a higher level. Improvisation helps people understand the dynamics of human interaction and fosters self-awareness. Improvisation also gives us the opportunity to get out of our heads and get in the moment. None of the exercises involve competition. Participants quickly realise that they are all in the same boat regardless of title, position in company or length of service. Not only is that the path of least resistance to collaborate with peers but a new understanding of trust in the workplace emerges. For more info on why Improv and Team Dynamics work so well, check out this article here.

3Why work with Neil?

Neil is a veteran improviser with over 10 years of improv experience and 20 years of corporate management experience in the multinational sector, including senior management level. Neil has taught improv to a number of organisations around the world. His signature show, Neil+1, has been performed to much acclaim around the world. Neil holds a Masters in Training & Education as well as being a qualified Executive Coach.

4Who is Neil?

About Neil Neil Curran specialises in the areas of Team Building & Collaboration, Effective Team Development, People Management, Public Speaking & Presenting, Executive Presence, Effective Communication & Influencing, Creativity & Innovation, Spontaneity, Confidence Coaching, Leadership, Adaptability & Dealing with Change and Improvisation Skills in Business. Neil has 20 years of management and corporate experience in an international context. He has led teams global teams for 18 years having held a senior leadership position in the Irish subsidiary of a multinational organisation. Neil is associate faculty for the Irish Management Institute and is also a team member of The Core Story Ltd, providing story and strategy consulting and training to clients across the globe. Neil is a Professional Improviser and stage performer, which brings a unique energy and practical approach to his work. Neil has performed his signature improv show, Neil+1, to audiences around the world. He is also the Founder and Director of Improv Fest Ireland and Assistant Director of Improv Utopia Ireland. Neil has a Masters in Training & Education with his Masters Dissertation focusing on Improvisation as a Training Method to Develop Effective Teams in the Workplace with a Focus on Promoting Confidence, Interpersonal Skills and Relationship Building. He is also a qualified Executive Coach with EQi Certification and an experienced MC and Speaker. Neil has regularly appeared on national TV and in numerous national newspapers over the years providing thought leadership in his field including; Newstalk, Irish Times, RTÉ and TV3 (now Virgin Media One).