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The “yes, and…” technique in 3 easy steps

The “yes, and…” technique in 3 easy steps

15 minutes

To bring the “Yes, and” improv technique [Link to concept article] to your next brainstorming session, you need to bring a genuine willingness to listen and stay open to new ideas. This means actively hearing the other person out even if you don’t fully agree with them.

 

The key is to say “yes” to the idea by accepting it, and then build on it by adding something of your own. It’s not just agreement, it’s collaboration: “Yes, and what if we also tried this…?”

1
Listen fully
  • Give your full attention to the other person's idea.
  • Don’t judge, interrupt or prepare your response.
  • You're aiming to understand and support the idea, not critique it.
    • 2
    Say “Yes, and…”
  • Acknowledge the idea by saying “Yes”. This shows acceptance and keeps the conversation open.
  • Then build on it by saying “and…” followed by your addition or improvement.
    • 3
    Keep the ball rolling
  • Encourage others to add their own “Yes, and…” responses.
  • This keeps the energy positive and creates a snowball of ideas.
  • Save judging or filtering for later. This step is purely about expanding possibilities.

    • Repeat the process until everyone’s idea has been built upon by everyone else at least once.

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