Yes, and…

 

We send out this newsletter every two weeks, talking about how organizations and individuals can better communicate with their audience. Read past issues. Here we look at how improv skills can help us become better communicators.

 

“Yes, and…” is the cardinal rule of improv comedy.

 

In an improvised scene, one partner sets up a premise, and the other accepts and expands on it by saying “Yes, and…”.

This act of verbal acceptance applies to other areas of human interaction. For one, It helps you create:

 

A comfortable space to share opinions

 

It’s easy to tell someone that they’re wrong, or to think that saying “No” to others will give our opinions weight. What isn’t easy is creating a space where everyone is comfortable sharing their thoughts. This is where it is necessary for critical thinking to take a back seat.

 

In a “Yes, and” exercise, judgment is delayed, and new ideas are allowed and expanded upon. 

 

Take, for example, a brainstorming session for a fundraiser. A participant puts across their proposal, and others help by adding new dimensions to the idea. In these initial planning stages, the more ideas that are generated, the better.

 

There is always room afterward to edit and organize these ideas in terms of usability.

 

Implementing “Yes, and…”

 

It helps to think of it in this way:

 

Yes = Empathy

 

Saying yes means accepting that there is truth in someone’s position.

 

“Yes, Sarah, I understand how this can help get younger people to donate”

 

And = Addition

 

“And” provides more information and follows the line of thought put forward by the person you’re talking to.

 

Look at this example:

 

“And it could also encourage them to come to offline events.”

 

OR

 

“And have you looked at how that will affect our budget?”

 

In the former, the point is expanded on to highlight additional benefits. In the latter, more information is provided for consideration.

 

Note: It’s not strictly necessary to say the words ‘Yes’ or ‘And’. Any followup statement you make that accepts and furthers the premise that your conversational partner has set up can be considered a “Yes, and…” statement.

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“Yes, and…” isn’t always advised or necessary. However, there is no doubt that in the right situations, this sort of open and positive approach to communication can help your conversational partners feel comfortable sharing what’s on their minds.

 

See you next time,

Mukundan