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The "Yes, And" Theory

Writer's picture: Chuck CusumanoChuck Cusumano

By Jillian Broaddus and Chuck Cusumano


 


Perhaps you’ve heard of the “Yes, and” theory before. Its relevance touches numerous and various areas, from theater to business and everything in between.

 

For me, I recently discovered the philosophy as it pertains to the world of athletics.  It occupied a significant portion of “Rebound,” a book on coming back from sports injuries.  In it, the “Yes, and” theory is played out in a way that demonstrates the significance that our own words have on our health:

 

“As you reach milestones during your injury recovery, you might feel some internal conflict – excited because you are finally weight-bearing or because you just got cleared and are returning to certain aspects of your training, but also aware that you are far short of your pre-injury status. Remind yourself to gauge your current feelings of competence and success on the basis of your injury-recovery progress and not by comparing where you are now with where you were before you got injured.

 

When you are redefining success at this point, eliminate ‘Yeah, but…’ from your story. Instead of ‘Yeah, but…’ you need to switch to ‘Yes, and…” It’s a trick improv actors have long used to keep creativity and collaboration flowing – saying “No” or “But” during a scene shuts your fellow actor down. Using ‘Yes, and…’ instead builds everyone up and opens the door to new possibilities. (Note that this strategy not only makes you feel better, it also improves your interactions and relationships, which leads to a stronger support system!)

 

Someone says: ‘You ran a mile! That’s awesome!’ Instead of responding: ‘Yeah, but I used to run ten miles and my pace was a lot faster,’ try: ‘Yes, and I can’t wait until I am up to two miles!’”

 

So, how does this little improv trick translate to the world of leadership?  Let us count the ways:

 

  1. It builds trust: Opening with “Yes, and…” is the easiest way to demonstrate active listening.  Plus, leading with affirmation (“yes”) lets your people know that their ideas, thoughts, and opinions won’t be immediately shut down.  Both of these results are key for creating a culture of trust and openness.

  2. It sparks creativity: There’s a reason it started as an improv acting trick, as “yes, and…” sparks us to think on the creative (and bright!) side to keep the conversation going.

  3. It fosters collaboration: The key to collaboration comes in the “and.”  No longer are ideas standing on their own – adding an “and” to your affirmation allows both parties to engage in the brainstorming.

  4. It opens new doors: What might you have previously said “no” to, that the “Yes, and” theory could allow you to see in a new light?

  5. It creates positivity: As “Rebound” demonstrated, using “Yes, and” language – even if that’s not the first reaction that comes to your mind – sets the tone of a more optimistic outlook.

 

So, try using “Yes, and…” in your own life and leadership, and let us know how it works at hello@thejoshuagroup.com!

 

 

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