Yes-But Exercise #2 - Your Personal Yes-But Alerts

The most important Yes-Buts to recognize are the ones you use yourself. Unfortunately, these are also the most difficult to recognize. When you’re just starting out, we recommend asking a few people close to you to serve as your personal “Yes-But Alerts.” As we mentioned earlier in this chapter, you could ask them to give you some subtle sign (like touching their nose) every time you use a Yes-But. Or they could simply stop you and say, “Yes-But,” or point out what happened after the conversation is over. Do whatever works best for you. Over time, you’ll find that you start catching yourself, becoming your own best Yes-But alert.