Yes, And...

Purpose

"Yes, And..." is the foundational principle of improv theatre, applied as an icebreaker. Participants practise building on each other's ideas instead of blocking them. It trains active listening, creative thinking, and a collaborative mindset. The exercise shows how much further ideas travel when they are received with acceptance rather than resistance.

At a glance

• Group size: 4–30
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Facilitation style: Paired or small group exercise
• Setting: In-person or virtual

How to run

1. Pair up.
2. Round 1 ("Yes, But"): Plan a fictional holiday together. Every response must start with "Yes, but..." Run for 2 minutes.
3. Debrief briefly: "How did that feel?"
4. Round 2 ("Yes, And"): Same scenario. Every response must start with "Yes, and..." Run for 2 minutes.
5. Debrief: "What changed? Which conversation went further? Which was more fun?"
6. Bridge to the session: "Today, let's try to be in 'Yes, And' mode."

Materials needed

• None

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Skipping the "Yes, But" round: The contrast is the teaching moment.
• Too abstract a scenario: "Plan a holiday" or "design a restaurant" works better than "discuss strategy."
• Not debriefing: The insight only lands through reflection.
• Forcing it on introverts: Pairs are better than performing in front of the group.

Inclusion & accessibility

• Works well virtually.
• No physical activity.
• Language-dependent: ensure non-native speakers understand the "Yes, and" / "Yes, but" distinction.
• Low-pressure paired format is introvert-friendly.

Variations

• Story chain: Build a group story one sentence at a time, each starting with "Yes, and..."
• Worst idea first: Combine with brainstorming — use "Yes, and" to build on the worst idea in the room.
• Physical "Yes, And": One person strikes a pose, the next adds to it.

When NOT to use this

• When the group genuinely needs critical evaluation mode (design reviews, risk assessments).
• If "Yes, And" is interpreted as "agree with everything" — frame it as building, not blind agreement.
• In groups that have done this exercise many times and find it stale.

Source & further reading

• Core principle of improv theatre, attributed to Keith Johnstone and Viola Spolin.
• Widely adopted in design thinking, Agile retrospectives, and innovation workshops.