Why Default Thinking (Usually) Stinks & What To Do Instead
Mike Ganino
Storytelling & Stage Presence Director | Transforming Speakers into Magnetic Performers with Stories That Captivate & Deliver
We often rely on default thinking to help us respond to situations at work.
Our responses in meetings, our fingers banging away on the keyboard in reply to an email we just received, or our first reaction to a job candidate. We tend to stick to the same default response in order to move quickly and get more done.
Sometimes the default thinking saves us time and helps us make quick decisions.
Other times, the default thinking stops us from moving forward, keeps us from developing relationships, and impedes our culture & team moving forward. It stifles agility, breaks down communication, and dampens innovation.
So, what do you do if you find yourself stuck in a loop of ineffective and unuseful default responses? Start by saying yes. I learned this from improv at Second City, Improv Olympic, and UCB Theater and have been applying in work settings for nearly 15 years with big success. It's the core tenet that I use in helping to develop culture and productive teams.
Saying yes isn’t about saying “Yes, you can do that.” It’s about saying “Yes, I hear you.” If you think about meetings, how often is it that no one really hears what everyone is saying? In that context, saying yes is not about agreeing to something, it’s about saying you hear them and see that they want to do that.
The “and” is about contributing. In a business setting, saying and is about creating a bridge, saying “How can I help you do this?” You’ll often get to a place that’s entirely different than before.
I usually see a lot of “Yes, but…” that shuts down ideation and creativity and finding a solution to something. “Yes and” is really, essentially to give great customer service. For me, using “Yes and” allows me to respect myself while also listening to the customer.
Check out more about using improv theater at work to improve your relationships, culture, and results from my recent interview on Shareable Podcast with Jeff Gibbard and Caroline Tesone.