Yes, but...

Yes, but... is a participatory brainstorming activity where participants explore creative reasons to avoid doing something. It is ideal for promoting critical thinking and reverse decision analysis, allowing participants to challenge ideas and address potential obstacles from an innovative perspective.

Preparation

1. Define the purpose:
   • Encourage the use of creativity to explore reasons for avoiding a specific action.
   • Promote the identification and analysis of potential barriers.
   • Turn critical thinking into a positive and constructive exercise.
2. Prepare the materials:
   • Flipcharts or whiteboards to record generated ideas.
   • Markers or pens.
   • Optional: cards for participants to write down their ideas individually before sharing them.
3. Set up the space:
   • Arrange participants in a circle or small groups to facilitate idea exchange.
   • Provide a central space to record the reasons for not doing something.
4. To run the activity virtually:
   • Use platforms like Questiory, Miro, or Mural to create a collaborative board where participants can add reasons in real time.
   • Ask participants to share their ideas in the chat or use interactive polling tools.
   • Organize the discussion and analysis using virtual whiteboards or shared documents.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Introduce the purpose
   • Explain that the goal of the activity is to generate a list of creative reasons to avoid carrying out a specific action.
   • Emphasize that the exercise is not meant to be negative but rather to identify potential barriers and explore "creative avoidance."
2. Define the action
   • Select a topic or action for the activity, such as: “Implementing a new project” or “Changing the team structure.”
   • Pose the initial question: “Why shouldn't we do this?”
3. Brainstorming
   • Ask participants to share all possible reasons for avoiding the proposed action.
   • Record each idea in a visible place without censorship or judgment to encourage creativity and open participation.
4. Group analysis
   • Review the generated list and sort the reasons into categories such as “External factors,” “Internal barriers,” or “Misconceptions.”
   • Discuss which reasons are valid and which could be addressed with creative solutions.
5. Turning ideas into action
   • Ask the group to select the three most common or challenging reasons and propose strategies to overcome them.
   • Guide the discussion toward how barriers can become opportunities for learning or innovation.

Purpose

The purpose of Yes, but... is to use creative avoidance in a productive way, encouraging critical analysis and exploring potential barriers to support more informed and creative decision-making.

Required materials

• Flipcharts or whiteboards.
• Markers or pens.
• Cards to write down ideas (optional).

Platforms

• • Questiory
  • Miro
  • Padlet
  • Mural

Practical recommendations

• Create a safe environment: Make sure participants feel free to express their ideas without fear of judgment.
• Encourage creativity: Invite the group to think beyond typical reasons for not doing something.
• Categorize barriers: Organize ideas into categories to support easier analysis later on.
• Shift the focus to solutions: Once barriers are identified, guide the group toward strategies to overcome them.
• Customize the activity: Adapt the action topic to the specific needs of the group or project.

Inspiration

Ideas for “Yes, but...” topics

• Implementing a new management system within the team.
• Introducing a cultural change in an organization.
• Launching an innovative product to the market.
• Organizing a large-scale community event.
• Replacing traditional processes with agile methods.
• Reducing environmental impact in a common activity.
• Expanding a business into new international markets.
• Developing an educational program using advanced technology.
• Increasing collaboration among remote work teams.
• Reforming a traditional organizational policy.