#2: Quit saying ‘No, that won’t work’

In the past, when someone made a design suggestion in a meeting that I felt wouldn't work, I would try to explain why, typically starting with "No, that won't work because..."

However, I realized that this response was often poorly received. The other person would likely interpret it as a lack of respect for their opinion.

Moreover, I noticed that this direct negation would often halt collaboration.

Now, I try to foster creative collaboration by adopting a "Yes, and..." approach. This echoes the dynamic in improv comedy, where actors build on each other's prompts. I take the feedback, attempt to incorporate it, and build upon it.

If a suggestion doesn't work, I've found it beneficial to demonstrate why and present an alternative solution that meets their objectives.

Note: Sometimes, the suggestions I initially thought wouldn't work actually do.