Don’t talk about my but. 😃
When possible, our and is more powerful than our but.
A simple example:
That is a beautiful painting, but have you seen this one?
That is a beautiful painting, and have you seen this one?
Try that 20 times per day as a leader and watch what happens.
Your and is prettier than your but.
Remember, and implies understanding and acceptance. But implies a perpendicular turn in the conversation. And implies, “I understand and add to it.” But says, “I disagree and suggest otherwise.”
As usual exceptions exist. Early in life, I realized that always and never are rarely accurate ways to frame things. In fact, it is exceedingly smart and wise to know how to use the but card.
When we disagree vehemently then we should transparently do so. Being in-congruent is fine.
For this posting, we focus on the power of and on you and the person with whom you are speaking, especially when you are generally like minded.
And implies understanding and acceptance. But implies a perpendicular turn in the conversation. And implies, “I understand.” But says, “I disagree.”
This has been helpful in my personal life and in my business life. It is a very positive, almost subliminal, enhancement in conversations to use and when continuing dialogue with another person. When it is sensible, try it and see how much smoother conversations go when we pivot from what someone says to us, and we start our reply with and instead of but.
Good stuff. Cheers!