The Simple Switch that Creates Better Collaboration

Stop Saying “No” (and “Yeah, But”)—Use “Yes, And” to Build Better Ideas Sign up for the next SQI Micro Dose and Get the goods on how to make work better for the people doing the work: https://calendly.com/jesse04/sqi-webinar The speaker uses a party-planning brainstorming exercise to show how language and energy shape collaboration: saying “no” shuts people down and leads to weak ideas, while “yes, but” is often a sneaky way of saying no and signals low commitment or minimizing others. The group repeats the exercise by replacing “no” with “yes, but,” then with “yes, and,” and observes that “yes, and” creates alignment, builds on contributions, and amplifies ideas instead of turning brainstorming into one-upmanship. Participants describe how the final round felt more collaborative and produced a “full party,” reinforcing the point that a small word change can transform how teams generate improvement ideas. 00:00 Why No Kills Ideas 00:47 Round Two Yes But 02:16 Yes But Is Still No 03:19 Final Round Yes And 04:38 Amplify Through Collaboration 05:34 Wrap Up And Last Laughs