Coach EM Gem #240: The Power of "AND"
Coach EM GEM – The Power of AND
One of my favorite themes from season 3 on Ted Lasso show is around Yes, And …
“Yes opens the door. AND invites people to walk through it.”
I love this because one of the simplest and most powerful coaching tools I teach is the AND Strategy.
Think about the last time someone said to you:
“I hear what you're saying, BUT…”
What happened?
Chances are, everything they said before the word BUT suddenly felt less important.
BUT can shut down a conversation. AND can open it up.
It's a tiny word with an enormous impact on how people feel heard, valued, and respected.
Here's my challenge for you.
Next time you're in a conversation, practice two things:
- Listen to understand, not to respond.
"So what I'm hearing is… have I understood you correctly?"
- Replace BUT with AND.
"I appreciate your perspective, AND what other possibilities could we explore?"
You're not necessarily agreeing. You're acknowledging their perspective and keeping the conversation open.
Because great coaching isn't about having all the answers.
It's about creating the space for others to find theirs.
So here's your Coach EM challenge:
Catch your BUTs. Practice your ANDs. Notice what opens up.
- Live inspired
- Practice improving
- Lead with impact
