Avish's Feedback from APWA Washington
What happens when you teach improv to 400+ public works professionals?
Magic. Pure magic.
Last week at the American Public Works Association Washington chapter conference, I watched engineers, project managers, and department heads transform their approach to impossible situations. All with two simple words.
“Yes, And.”
Here's what resonated most with these incredible public servants:
The "Yes, But" Trap
Every time you say "yes, but..." you're really saying "no." You break rapport. Kill momentum. Miss the real issue.
When citizens demand impossible services, when regulations seem outdated, when budgets get slashed - "Yes, but" just creates walls.
"Yes, and" builds bridges.
Change as Your Launching Pad
One question kept coming up: "How do we adapt when everything keeps changing?"
Wrong question. The right one: "Yes, things are changing, and how do we make this new reality even better?"
Infrastructure technology is changing faster than your 20-year plans? Yes, and that's your chance to leapfrog old limitations.
Your Creative Genius (Yes, Everyone Has One. Even YOU)
I had them do an exercise. One that most felt they would NOT be able to do. But they did it. And did it well!
The room erupted with ideas, laughter, and realizations.
Your brain has two modes:
- Conscious (slow, critical, limited)
- Subconscious (fast, creative, unlimited)
Guess which one you're using in those painful brainstorming meetings? Guess which one would be better?
Working Within Regulations
"But we can't just ignore compliance!" Fair point.
Here's the process:
- Generate ideas (with no constraints)
- Evaluate for compliance
- Iterate: "This violates code X. How could we modify it?"
Creativity isn't about breaking rules. It's about finding the possibilities within them.
It’s supposed to be a messy process. First idea won’t work? That’s normal. Don’t give up on it! Iterate - try again, use the new idea and its limitation as a new starting point.
Transforming Your Biggest "Yes, Butter"
The temptation will be to start with your most negative employee. “How do I get my biggest ‘yes, butter’ to say, ‘yes, and’?”
Resist that temptation. Start with your eager adopters. Get that 20% on board and let it spread.
That resistant department head? Stop trying to convince them. Instead, "Yes, And" their objections until you find what they really care about.
The APWA Washington folks got it. They experienced how small steps into uncertainty lead to breakthrough solutions.
How about you and your team or organization? Could you use a little more ‘yes, and’?
I am betting you could. Because whether you're managing aging infrastructure, tight budgets, or "impossible" stakeholders - "Yes, And" turns constraints into catalysts.
What's your biggest "Yes, But" that needs to become a "Yes, And"?
APWA chapters: Let’s chat about bringing this to your next conference. Your members will thank you!