The Yes Blog

One Tool. A Competitive Advantage.

By Aaron Schmookler, Adam Utley, and Rachel Lionheart (in collaboration)   Most leaders, when asked, say that their team has the skills it needs to perform better than average. When asked specifically about communication, however, they say it needs to get better.  When asked about teamwork, they say it needs to get better.  When asked […]

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The Elephant in the Room: Make the most of every employee complaint

Recently, the following question about an employee complaint appeared on a message board for Human Resources Professionals: The Question What Would You Do? You are the HR Manager of a small accounting firm consisting of NINE women and ONE man. Once a week, the water jug must be changed, and the women usually ask the one […]

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The Audacity to Thrive.

Problem is, most business training is ineffective, boring, powerpoint lecturing yak-yak that accomplishes nothing.  It espouses systems or techniques designed to help ensure success.  And the systems work.  There’s nothing wrong with the systems they teach.  But there’s nothing wrong with the systems that are already in place either.  Informational training about systems and best […]

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TGIF Destroys Lives

I remember once walking through the halls of my workplace on a Friday morning.  I was in a good mood.  I was happy to be there.  I was looking forward to working with my teammates.  I was looking forward to serving my customers.  It was going to be a good day. Then, as I was […]

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If Even Death is an Offer

Everything is an offer. That’s a principle that we at The Yes Works teach.  An “offer,” in an improv context, is some bit of information provided to you for your creative use.  We can take creative inspiration from absolutely anything in our environment—from something someone says, from the tone with which they say it, or […]

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We're on the Radio!

Hear our ten minute interview on KLAY radio’s program, “Equal Time Radio.”   Thanks, Traci Kelly and Frank Blair, for having us on!

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Improv: Change Your Mind

What would you say if I told you there’s genius in you?  What if I told you that there’s genius in everyone you work with? You may doubt it.  I believe it.  My experience bears out my belief. Imagine there’s a Ferrari in your driveway.  You drive it every day, but you firmly believe that […]

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Play Your Way to Innovation

Encourage and stimulate creativity and innovation. Get the edge on your competition. Keep up your interest and passion for work. Retain employees who love their work. Excite your clients, increase referral business, and create a buzz. This will be an article about cultivating a culture of creativity and innovation in business (and elsewhere). But first, […]

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You Can Keep Your Damn Sugar

Fear Can Muck Up Your Relationships One of my dad’s favorite jokes (at least I think it was one of his favorites.  He certainly tells it often) goes like this: Bob decides to do some baking and discovers that he doesn’t have any sugar.  “No problem,” Bob thinks, “I’ll just borrow some from Harry.  I’m […]

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