"Yes, and" is the concept at the core of Improv Comedy.
If your improv partner says something, NO MATTER how ridiculous, untrue, or unfunny -- you can't try to change their truth, or deny their premise.
You MUST accept their perspective; AND then build on it.
So if they say, "Wow, we are here on the moon!" and you wanted to talk about cheese, you can't say: "No, this is a cheese shop."
But you can say: "Yes, and who left cheese on the moon?"
This way, both people get to play, and the audience doesn't get confused.
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This concept is useful at work too.
Especially when we have a strong perspective about something, we sometimes wait for the other person to finish so we can say what we have to say.
We start a lot of responses with "But."
Try starting your responses with "Yes, and" instead!
(Pic from March 2018 improv show in San Francisco!)
