“Yes, And”: A Leadership Practice for Building Trust, Momentum, and Culture

Send us Fan MailWhat if better leadership starts not with having the right answer—but with how you respond in the moment?In this episode of The Leadership Vision Podcast, Nathan Freeburg is joined by Laura Johnson to explore the power of “Yes, and,” a principle borrowed from improvisation that helps leaders build trust, maintain momentum, and strengthen team culture.Drawing on Laura’s background in improvisation, live-event hosting, and business leadership, this conversation unpacks how acknowledgment, presence, and small language shifts can dramatically improve collaboration—especially in fast-moving or virtual teams.If you lead people, serve on committees, or collaborate across teams, this episode offers practical ideas you can start using immediately.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy “Yes, and” is about acknowledgment—not agreementHow leaders unintentionally shut down momentumThe connection between “Yes, and” and psychological safetyHow to say no without breaking trustSimple ways to practice presence in everyday leadership momentsAbout the GuestLaura Johnson is a new member of the Leadership Vision team, helping bring clarity and alignment to complex, fast-moving work. She draws on her background as a former talent agency owner, live-event host, and trained improviser, with deep experience in communication, presence, and relationship-centered leadership.Support the show-Read the full blog post here!CONTACT USemail: [email protected] FacebookLeadership Vision OnlineABOUTThe Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in discovering, practicing, and implementing a Strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. Contact us to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.