Faced with a situation you haven’t faced before, how would you feel if you knew you could handle it and move it forwards, every single time?
In improv - which your author has done on stages in Hollywood in front of crowds that sometimes reached low double figures - there are two words that underpin the entire improv process:
Yes. And.
The principle states that in order to make a scene flow in front of an audience as if it was scripted exactly as intended regardless of how bizarre, is for each actor to agree with whatever the other actor says, (“Yes”), and then to build on it (“And”).
For example;
Actor 1: “Look, over there, a giant pink pigeon just landed on top of that car”.
Actor 2: “Yeah, and it looks real angry!”
And so begins the giant, pink, angry pigeon sketch.
…Why is it angry? Why is it so big? Why is it landing on a car? Why that car? Can it drive? How did it get there? What’s its name?
The story possibilities, are endless.
Consider the two words that do the opposite;
No. But.
Actor 1: “Look, over there, a giant pink pigeon just landed on top of that car.”
Actor 2: “No, that’s impossible.”
And so ended the giant, pink, angry, pigeon sketch.
***
The point is, in improv, to create a scene that builds excitement for the story and anticipation for what may come next, you accept what the other person says, and you build on it.
It doesn’t mean you agree with it, it simply means you observe it, accept it, build on it, and help the story flow.
I’ve used this technique for years in business.
Whether I’m meeting with a colleague, prospect, partner or boss, listening to what is being said and building on it has the miraculous power of allowing conversation to flow.
It doesn’t make you a yes person. And it doesn’t stop you questioning or debating.
It simply keeps your mind open to possibility - of observation and acceptance - and keeps the dialogue flowing.
Consider the “Yes, And” in this totally made-up and forced-for-the-purpose-of-writing work situation;
Boss: “You know, I’m not sure this new launch is going to go as we hope.”
You: “Yes, it’s been bugging me too, tell me more about your thoughts…”
The conversation flows with space to build on each other’s observations. It’s like creating a scene that both of you want to be a part of.
How about the opposite? The “No, But”;
Boss: “You know, I’m not sure this new launch is going to go as we hope.”
You: “No, it will, we’ve thought of everything”.
In this scenario, the conversation ends and the opportunity for exploration is gone.
I’ve seen this happen countless times in business and improv; a single defensive response that dismisses the momentum of the scene and closes the conversation to potential and insight.
On stage, just like business, the pressure to defend the way we see the world versus being open to running with something new, is palpable.
***
We all know that human interaction is way more nuanced than what I’ve just described.
It’s certainly not as black and white as “Yes, and”, or “No, but.”
However, when we think of work interactions as scenes in the movies of our careers, “Yes, And” can be a powerful mental technique to move conversations forward with openness, whenever we’re having to think on our feet, or embrace different points of view.
With Love And Improvisation,
The Jolt.
PS we wish you ALL the absolute best for this coming year, and thank you, as ever, for being such a loyal reader. If you love what we do, tell others. If you don’t, you won’t have read this far.
This is our 70th post, which in dog years, is pretty darn good going we think.
Remember, success is ALL in how we form, carry, and act on our thoughts.