- Human Skills Edition
- Posts
- One Simple Phrase That Turns Conflict into Collaboration
One Simple Phrase That Turns Conflict into Collaboration
Girvin
March 31, 2025
In partnership with
FIRST THINGS FIRST:
Thank you for the feedback in Speak Up in Meetings—Even When the Environment Feels Unsafe, letting me know that scripts for phrasing challenging feedback constructively would help you navigate difficult meeting dynamics. I will share some next week.
Ever walk away from a conversation thinking:
“That could have gone better?” or “How could I have responded differently?”
Whether it’s misalignment with a partner, tension with a team member, or a brilliant idea that landed flat—communication breakdowns cost more than we admit.
Poor communication isn’t just annoying—it’s expensive.
It stalls progress, damages trust, and makes even great ideas easy to ignore.
The problem?
Most people double down on trying to be right…
Instead of learning how to keep the conversation moving.
Enter one of the most powerful tools borrowed from improv theater— The art of “Yes, And.”
“You can’t change what you don’t confront.”
In improv, “Yes, And” is a rule of survival.
It keeps the scene alive, the story building, and the players connected.
In work and leadership, it does something even more valuable: It transforms tension into possibility.
“Yes, And” isn’t about agreement. It’s about acknowledgment + addition.
You’re not conceding your perspective.
You’re signaling: “I heard you. I’m building on it.”
That’s how you earn the right to influence the direction of the conversation.
Gif by cbs on Giphy
I Like Examples, So Consider This:
You’re in a meeting. You float an idea.
A colleague immediately says, “That won’t work.”
Tension rises. The group shuts down. Progress stalls.
Now imagine the same moment—but instead, they respond with:
“Yes, that’s an interesting direction—and maybe we can also...”
The energy shifts.
Now you’re building, not battling.
The gold standard of business news
Morning Brew is transforming the way working professionals consume business news.
They skip the jargon and lengthy stories, and instead serve up the news impacting your life and career with a hint of wit and humor. This way, you’ll actually enjoy reading the news—and the information sticks.
Best part? Morning Brew’s newsletter is completely free. Sign up in just 10 seconds and if you realize that you prefer long, dense, and boring business news—you can always go back to it.
Why This Matters in High-Stakes Work
Subject matter experts and entrepreneurs are often the ones introducing change, offering critique, or proposing new paths.
Which means:
You’re often the one triggering resistance, intentionally or not.
“Yes, And” creates a psychological shift:
From opposition → to expansion
From defense → to curiosity
From “Me vs. You” → to “What can we build together?”
That's why you need a few sure-fire ways to apply “Yes, And” in everyday situations.
Gif by antmvh1 on Giphy
3 Ways I Use “Yes, And” to Transform Conflict into Collaboration
Let’s get it: