Principle of ‘Yes and…” Inspires Creativity
Innovation is high on the agenda of every company today. And once creativity training is just as high on the agenda, Innovation will follow. Innovation lies at the very heart of growth strategy. Optimizing creativity in the workplace to ensure productive and profitable innovation is, therefore, the challenge.
It never ceases to amaze me to read the number of queries in numerous LinkedIn professional groups seeking “software programs” to develop, foster and measure creativity and innovation in their companies. This linear thinking is a result of our educational system that is strip mined one’s use of their right-brain.
Let’s try a truly creative approach.
Yes and … is the foundation of improvisational theater. There are no “yes but,” “yes however,” “no,” “no you can’t,” “however,” “I don’t agree,” “here’s a better…,” etc. Leaders who conduct meetings, conversations, and trainings built on the principle of “Yes and…” benefit from greater participation from all participants. That’s all participants.
So what is the principle of “Yes and…”
It is all about collaboration and building on each other’s ideas. It is about taking each prior input to another level. It is about taking risks without the fear of repercussions for making mistakes.
Many have learned that training in improvisational theater techniques is far more effective in developing inter-silo and intra-silo collaboration in their companies than all the traditional business
school and business consultant collaboration trainings and workshops being held. To defend the U.S. economy, we (need to) tap into the creative potential of more and more workers. The reason? Wherever creativity goes, economic growth follows.” – Richard Florida, Harvard Business Review
As a coach, trainer and consultant, Larry Blumsack partners with people and organizations on the move and those already there to accelerate their communication, presentation and speaking skills to be on par with their ambition. Through one-on-one coaching and group training Larry helps leaders and aspiring leaders elevate their presence and communication skills to influence more people, sell more products-services-ideas and inspire others more successfully than they ever imagined.
Larry is the bestselling author of Face-to-Face is The Ultimate Social Media and founder of Zoka Institute and Zoka Training®. Zoka Training® — Mind/Voice/Body/Mindfulness in sync — is the result of Larry’s 45 years as a coach, acting teacher, actor, voice-over artist, theater and TV director/producer, radio & TV commentator and show host, speaker, trainer, serial entrepreneur, and syndicated columnist. Larry was a founding member of the theater department at Northeastern University.
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