If your meetings are akin to watching paint dry and customer objections make you want to assume the fetal position, then buckle up, compadre; you’re thirsting for
“Yes, And…”.
“Yes” is the hearty handshake to someone’s idea; “And” is crafting a Lego palace together. The “Yes” acknowledges – it’s the embrace of your partner’s line of thinking. The “And”? That’s the glitter – your embellishment of the narrative in progress.
But wait! Are you, perhaps unwittingly, summoning the notorious party pooper, “Yes, but…”? You know, the classic buzzkill. It starts all nice and agreeable with “Yes,” but then “but” steamrolls through like a runaway shopping cart.
“Ah! Here’s why your idea stinks!” it hollers. Brakes screech, creative thinking skids to a halt, and defences rise like a medieval fortress. The aftermath? Ideas are like shy critters; they go into hiding. Alternatively, “Yes, and…” lays out the welcome mat for a creative fiesta where ideas mingle and dance.
Deep down, “Yes, and…” is about validation. The “Yes” whispers, “You’re heard and valued.” The “And” choruses, “Let’s whip up something extraordinary together!”
So, when your customer goes, “Your product costs my firstborn!” Rather than duelling it out, serenade them with “Yes, it’s a premium choice, and that’s because it’s brimming with value. Shall we explore how this investment multiplies in worth?” Apple Vision Pro, anyone?
And, when your colleague’s idea is seemingly from cloud cuckoo land? No dismissal. Sprinkle “Yes, and…” magic: “Yes, super creative, and let’s mould it to fit our treasure map.” Gold, baby!
Stephen Colbert nails it: “With ‘Yes, and…’ you respect what your partner has initiated, and you’re building on it.”
How does one cultivate the “Yes, and…” mindset?
Tune In: Be in the moment. When someone speaks, they’re the soloist; you’re the rapt audience.
Harmonize with “Yes, and…”: Weave it into your dialogues. It’s not just a phrase; it’s a mindset.
Riff with the “And”: Improvise. Revel in adding layers to ideas.
Take a Bow, then Reflect: After the curtain falls, jot down mental notes. Was there applause? How might you tweak your next performance?
Armed with this technique, imagine a future where conversations are portals to lands of endless possibilities, where ideas bloom like fields of wildflowers, and collaboration is the air we breathe. Sounds dreamy? “Yes, and…” is your time machine. Strap in, set the dials, and warp through to that reality. Your future self will thank you.
