Yes, and…And Then What?
The first rule of improv is “Yes, And.” You accept what’s offered, and then you add to it. It’s how entire comedy sketches are built. No one shuts the scene down with “No, that’s not what we should start with.”
AI, in many ways, is the ultimate Yes, And partner. In a previous newsletter, I've spoken about how the number use of AI in 2025 is companionship and therapy. I've been testing how well it does as a coach and I can see why it's so alluring. It builds on my thinking. It never dismisses or shuts down; it always expands, encourages, and connects dots. We all love the feeling of being heard and built upon.
But here’s the catch: AI will never challenge you. It doesn’t say, “That might not hold up under pressure,” or “Here's a blind spot.” And that’s where leadership (and coaching) comes in.
Leaders often ask me: Building on people's ideas is great, but what if what they said isn’t right?
The answer is: find the 10% you can build from, and use that as your starting point. If someone says, “I think we should open our next office on Mars,” the Yes, And approach is: “What I like about what you said is that we should be looking at markets we haven’t considered in the past. And one market we might realistically explore is…”
You’ve acknowledged the spark in the idea, and then shaped it toward something useful.
That’s the power of Yes, And. It doesn’t mean you blindly agree. It means you connect, validate, and then add direction.
Here are some ways to start:
“Yes, and what I like about that is…”
“Yes, and building on that idea…”
“Yes, and taking what Joanne said even further…”
“Yes, and what this makes me think of is…”
“Yes, and one way we could test that is…”
“Yes, and the piece I’d add is…”
“Yes, and here’s how that connects to our bigger goal…”
“Yes, and to strengthen that, we might also consider…”
Notice these aren’t empty affirmations. They’re bridges. They keep the current of creativity and collaboration moving forward, while still allowing room for challenge and refinement.
AI can model the first part for us: how good it feels to always be supported, but leaders need to bring the second part: discernment, perspective, and direction.
So the next time you’re in a meeting, experiment. Try a “Yes, And” before you add your challenge. Notice how the energy shifts when people feel built upon rather than cut off. You’ll get more ideas, more momentum, and more willingness to go deeper when you do challenge.
That’s the real superpower: Yes, And … And Then. That’s how ideas, and people, grow.