Yes, And - a Mindset of Collaboration

​Life is a team sport, and going it alone is never as fun nor as efficient and productive as doing it with teammates. Where there are no teams, create them using the tenets of Improv Comedy – Say Yes AND, Don’t push your agenda, Listen with your heart.  

HERE'S THE THING:  Adopting a "YES AND" mindset, does NOT mean you are a "Yes Person" - it is quite the contrary.  Saying "Yes, And" first, is about finding common ground so that you can BUILD on the offer before you tear it down. 

Building a  "Yes, And" culture creates an environment where people feel valued and heard, and it promotes creative problem-solving and trust. Whether you're negotiating a work agreement, navigating a tough conversation with family, or working with a colleague, adopting a "Yes, And" mindset allows for more positive outcomes, deeper connections, and a more productive dialogue.
 
"Yes, And" vs. "Yeah, But": A Mindset Shift
  • "Yes, And" fosters collaboration, openness, and mutual respect. It invites others into a conversation with an attitude of acceptance, signaling that their ideas have value. This attitude is essential for building productive relationships and finding creative solutions, especially when dealing with opposing viewpoints or tough conversations.

  • "Yeah, But" often acts as a blocker in negotiations and conversations. It signals disagreement and creates barriers to effective communication. "Yeah, but" tends to shut down conversation and can escalate conflicts, which makes it a poor tool for collaboration. In contrast, "Yes, And" doesn’t necessarily mean you fully agree—it means you accept the other person’s contribution and add to it, which helps foster a more open and collaborative dialogue.

"Yes And" is an element of "Principled Negotiation" -- See my home page for more on the "Getting to Yes" book and the connection to the idea of principled negotiation... Separate people from the problem... Focus on interests, not positions.... Generate options for mutual gain.... these are all factors within the "Yes And" mindset that encourage you to build on the ideas of others, leading to more creativity and more options, rather than locking into one position. And this principled negotiation book aligns beautifully with tenets of applied improvisation!  Read it and see!
​

ImprovCollab IDEAS Gallery

I'm a Player's Coach - I love to inspire others through improv and always learn from them in the process!  

Picture
COACH'S TIP: 
One of the many benefits of IMPROV is MENTAL HEALTH! 
I have created numerous workshops for teams that promote LAUGHTER as the best medicine for Mental Health! 
​Plus all these benefits from Improv above!  

COACH'S TIP:   
​How you make people FEEL  matters more than anything else you do!

Remember that Improv Training helps Build Empathy
The practice of "Yes, And" reinforces how to validate others' experiences. Improv relies on DEEP listening, which includes reading emotions and validating how people feel.
Check out this Emotion Wheel from the Junto Institute - a great way to explore Emotions during improv play!

COACH'S TIP:  Read the Room

Picture
To really bring Improv home, you have to regularly read the room to CUSTOMIZE the games for your audience.
Be ready to PIVOT. Always.

Learning to READ THE ROOM is about learning how to customize for the audience as well as your fellow players.

Building Trust is something every team can work on.
Improv Teams are High Performing Teams.
Creating a safe zone where ALL teammates feel their opinion matters is on ALL of the team members. 
​


​Great way to End any Meeting!

Everyone: Shout out!
"YOU'RE AWESOME! 
YOU'RE AWESOME!
YOU'RE AWESOME!"

Let's Collab!

Contact me if you are interested in co-creating a class or workshop. OR if you have an improv group looking for some coaching.  I’d love to help, and I will meet your budget, if you bring the passion.

TAKE THE LEAP! 
​YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU JUMPED!
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by SiteGround