Two Words That Kill Creativity Dead

😵 Which two words can cause a creative room to lose its mojo - or even stop imaginative thought dead in its tracks?

First - picture this: you’re in a brainstorming session. Ideas are flying thick and fast; the energy is up. You notice, though, that each time someone suggests something, there’s that one guy (or gal) who pipes up with the dreaded - the icy buzz-kill - two-word phrase.

When creativity is stifled, everyone’s momentum and power is diminished

💀 “Yes, but…” 💀

After a few “Yes, but…”s (no matter how valid) the group will feel deflated; sidetracked, even. Everyone either becomes demoralised or hunts for solutions to that new thing.

As you fantasise about hurling this person (let’s call them Sam) into the nearest bin, you notice something.

Sam is stoked that they thought of a flaw to the plan.

Sam isn’t trying to be difficult. Sam doesn’t realise their comments have halted everyone’s flow and lost the room’s momentum. They think they’re being clever and helpful. Sadly, however, Sam just earned themselves a nickname: ‘Professor Yes, But’.

What does this behaviour mean for a team? 

However helpful or clever Sam (aka Professor Yes, But) thinks they’re being, their MO, if given enough space, will reduce group energy to zero every damn time. Sam’s canny cautiousness is exhausting and counterproductive.

Ever heard of ‘Yes, And’? It’s the bedrock tenet of business and it means to ‘accept and build’; to create, with care and forward momentum, a new reality.

‘Yes, But’ = an insidious drain on team time and energy.

‘Yes, And’ = the building blocks of positive communication.

Let’s remember: a “Yes, But…” person is rarely malign. Professor Sam isn’t trying to be a pain. A ‘Yes, But’ attitude is born out of nerves, from a wish for control, the result of wanting to look clever, or due to a real desire to be helpful.

As such, how do we gently shift from this distraction and negativity to a more open forward-moving path?

#businesstips #appliedimprovisation #IMPROVInc #managementskills #yesand #collaborationmindset #playatwork #mentalagility