Yes and, Innovation!

Yes and is the main pillar to Improvisational Theater. Theater that provides no script, theater that relies on few rules and theater where the actors have almost no control on how the scene is going to proceed. It is a very simple concept that can be adhered to in business as well as general life. In this process, Improv actors have to make up the script as they go along. Acceptance and cooperation is essential to the story moving forward. For instance if an actor started the scene saying “I’m going to the grocery store”, and the second actor says “no your not, you’re going to the movie theater”, it pretty much brings the scene to a screeching halt, options are now strictly limited. Or even worse an argument can occur on stage. Now lets take the Yes and, and put it into the  same scenario. First actor- “I’m going to the grocery store”, Second actor- “Great you can take my hot air balloon. Here are the keys”. Now we have a scene brewing; now the options are limitless. A great adventure is about to be had, instead of bickering and nothing happening.

The Yes and concept can and should be used more often in business communication. Too many ideas are thrown out of hand because saying “no it won’t work”, is a lot easier than thinking it through. Ostensibly, it’s giving up on innovation. An idea has to be planted and nurtured  for the  “innovation” scene to move forward. This also works well in the negotiating process. The similarities to Improv and negotiations are uncanny. Both parties have a set of loose ground rules, and both have no idea how the ending is going to turn out. When going into the process if the parties that be, only strive for their expectations instead of listening to the other side, many opportunities can be missed. It’s amazing how it works out.

Try using Yes and in your everyday life, slowly at first, even in your own thoughts to start. You will be surprised at how many different scenarios pop up, compared to the stubborn road map you already laid out. Accepting an idea, whether you like it or not, then adding your own thoughts can be quite stimulating. You have to give up some control, but you may notice that too much control can steer you right into the ground anyway. Adding on is the key. Risk is not inherently a bad thing.

Imagine if the sales department promised their client 10,000 widgets by next month. The company was recently down sized; the budget is at bare minimum. Is the manufacturing side going to say no we can’t? We don‘t have the staff or the money. Or, could they say Yes and, we can now hire temps, approve overtime and adjust the budget accordingly

Yes and doesn’t always work out, but even then you will know that that option has been tried and learned. And remember, common sense still rules the day.

Has anybody out there used the Yes and concept? What would be a good Yes and moment in your life? Please write back, I would love to know.

{Thank you for stopping by the  new home of Billy’s Bloggin Blast. Please feel free to roam around the site and pages. If you enjoy this blog you can subscribe to the RSS icon at the top of the page and share with your peeps by clicking the share button right below this. Some of them are actually useful. I’m still learning and could use all the advice I can get. Let me know if there is anything that you would like to see added or axed from this blog. Comments are always welcome and encouraged. Feel free to email me directly with any questions, comments or suggestions billgriffin04@gmail.com I will get back to you.} –Bill Griffin