IF A PERSON KNOWS just one thing about the techniques of improv, it’s probably two words: “Yes, and . . . ” This phrase describes the cornerstone philosophy of theatrical improvisation around the world.No matter the country or continent, no matter whether what’s being taught is short-form games, long-form theater, or classroom exercises,if people are improvising they’re using the concept of “Yes, and” (or si y, oui et, ja und, ye gwa in Spanish, French, German, and Korean).
如果一个人只知道即兴创作的一件事，那就大概是两个词：“是，和。。。”这句话描述了全世界戏剧即兴创作的基石哲学。无论是在国家还是大洲，无论教的是短式游戏，长篇戏剧或课堂练习，如果人们即兴表演， “是，和”（或西班牙语，法语，德语和朝鲜语的si，oui等，ja und ye gwa）的概念。
In this chapter we’ll take a look at what the “Yes, and . . . ” philosophy entails and how it can be applied practically and effectively to business. We’ll also look at a couple of key outgrowths of “Yes, and”:the importance of separating individual perspective from individual agenda, and the ways in which improvisational communication can boost the emotional intelligence of a workplace.
在本章中，我们将了解“是，然后。。哲学的涵义，以及如何将其切实有效地应用于企业。我们还将研究“是”的几个关键方面，以及：将个人观点与个人议程分开的重要性，以及即兴交流可以增强工作场所的情商的方式。
In the realm of comedic improvisation the phrase might actually be spoken aloud in the course of a scene. More importantly, though,each word in the phrase—whether actually spoken or silently implied—represents a key part of the team dynamic and mind-set that must be established between performers. “Yes” represents the unconditional acceptance of an idea that has been presented and established by another performer or a group of performers.
在喜剧即兴创作领域，该短语实际上可能是在场景过程中大声说出来的。但是，更重要的是，短语中的每个词（无论是实际说出的还是默默地暗示的）都代表着必须在表演者之间树立的团队活力和思维定势的关键部分。“是”表示无条件接受已经由另一位表演者或一组表演者提出并确立的想法。
“And” means that you take that expressed idea and build directly on it. What this means onstage is that if one performer says, “Wow, it’s hot in this kitchen,”the second performer does not say, “No, it isn’t—I’m freezing,” or“We’re not in the kitchen. We’re in a cruise ship bathroom.” Both of these statements deny, negate, and otherwise undermine the offer the first performer brought to the table. A “Yes, and . . . ” response might instead be, “Yes, it is hot. And the fact that I set the house on fire probably isn’t helping any.”
“和”表示您采用该表达的想法并直接建立在该想法上。这在舞台上的意思是，如果一个表演者说：“哇，这厨房很热”，第二个表演者却没有说：“不，不是，我在冻结”或“我们不在里面”。厨房。我们在游轮浴室里。”这两种说法都否认，否定或破坏了第一位表演者提出的要约。A“是，并且。。。”回应可能是“是的，很热。我把房子放火的事实可能无济于事。”
Onstage it’s crucial that everyone embrace “Yes, and . . . ” In fully improvised musicals for example performers are in a situation where an entire show is inspired by a single suggestion from the audience,and the comedy is going to grow from the series of split-second decisions the performers make about how to create a scene and how to move it forward, in real time. In order for the process of improvisation to work, there has to be mutual trust and understanding that everyone onstage has the same agenda in mind: to work together at peak intelligence as a team and create a process or product that entertains an audience.
在舞台上，至关重要的是每个人都必须接受“是，然后。。。”例如，在完全即兴的音乐剧中，表演者处于这样一种情况下：整场演出都受到观众的单个建议的启发，而喜剧片将从表演者就如何创建场景而做出的一系列瞬间决定中发展而来以及如何实时向前发展。为了使即兴创作过程能够正常工作，必须相互信任并理解，每个舞台上的每个人都应牢记相同的议程：以团队最高的智慧一起工作，并创建一种能吸引观众的过程或产品。
A violation of “Yes, and” means the scene crumbles, because a performer’s pursuit of a personal agenda (“Look at me—funny, funny me!”) negates what’s been built and doesn’t give the other performers in the scene anything to build on. The pure musical equivalent of a“Yes, and” violation would be something like a drummer in a jazz ensemble suddenly taking a wild, extended hard-rock drum solo in the middle of “My Funny Valentine” simply because he wanted to seize the chance to show off his chops in front of a paying crowd.
违反“是，并且”表示场景崩溃，因为表演者追求个人议程（“看着我-有趣，有趣的我！”）否定了所构建的内容，并没有给场景中的其他表演者任何东西建立。纯粹的音乐等同于“是，并且”违规，就像爵士乐团中的鼓手突然在“我的情人情人节”中间带一个狂野的，延伸的硬摇滚鼓独奏，仅仅是因为他想抓住机会在付费人群面前炫耀自己的印章.
I like to refer to “Yes, and . . . ” as the “scarlet thread” of improvisation—the one element of the improvisational fabric that is always present and ties all other improv techniques together. As simple sounding as the phrase “Yes, and” may be, its practical applications can be varied and nuanced. On a comedy stage a troupe of eight improvisers is usually made up of eight individuals with very different comedic styles, educations, and backgrounds.
我喜欢提到“是，并且。。。”作为即兴创作的“鲜红线”，即是即兴创作面料中始终存在的一种要素，它将所有其他即兴创作技术联系在一起。听起来像短语“是和”一样简单，其实际应用可以变化和细化。在喜剧舞台上，由八个即兴演奏者组成的团体通常由八个人组成，这些人具有不同的喜剧风格，学历和背景。
The fact that they all work together by way of “Yes, and” does not mean they give up their distinctive approaches or all react and engage with each other in the same exact way. “Yes, and . . . ” really becomes more a philosophy than a prime directive, encouraging each performer to work toward a common goal while maintaining an individual intellectual and comedic perspective.
他们都以“是”的方式共同工作的事实并不意味着他们放弃了自己独特的方法，或者所有人都以相同的确切方式做出反应并相互交往。“是的，并且。。。“实际上，这已成为一种哲学，而不是主要的指示，它鼓励每个表演者朝着共同的目标努力，同时保持个人的知识和喜剧观点。
In fact the common agenda is achieved on the strength of each individual perspective that supports it. Consequently there is a clear recognition that individual perspective is different from individual agenda.
实际上，共同议程是通过支持它的每个个人观点来实现的。因此，人们清楚地认识到个人观点不同于个人议程。
Watching improvisers onstage, an audience doesn’t have to be aware that any particular philosophy is being embraced by the performers—the audience simply reacts to what’s funny, interesting, or impactful. “Yes, and . . . ” should be similarly invisible in a business setting; what is supposed to shine through is actual communication,not the usage of a communication technique.
在舞台上观看即兴演奏者，观众不必知道表演者正在接受任何特定的哲学，观众只是对有趣，有趣或有影响力的事物做出反应。“是的，并且。。。”应该在业务环境中同样不可见；真正的交流应该是真正的交流，而不是交流技术的使用。
The real engine of “Yes,and” is simply respect. Whether onstage or in a boardroom, those who use a “Yes, and” approach are demonstrating respect for colleagues,respect for the idea that a group’s common goal takes precedence over any personal agenda, and respect for the process of communication and idea sharing. The yes of “Yes, and” is not supposed to be empty agreement.
“是和”的真正引擎就是尊重。无论是在舞台上还是在会议室中，使用“是”和“肯定”方法的人都表示对同事的尊重，对团队共同目标优先于任何个人议程的观念的尊重，以及对沟通和思想共享过程的尊重。“是，并且”的“是”不应该是空协议。
It’s not enough simply to say the word for the sake of saying it. On its own, “Yes” is an affirmation and acts as a conversation-stopper when no new information is brought into the mix. The authentic “Yes” in conjunction with the word “and” is a show of respect because it implies focus and concentration.
仅仅为了说出来就说这个词是不够的。就其本身而言，“是”是肯定的，并且在没有新信息加入时充当对话阻止者。真实的“是”与“和”一词的结合表示对他人的尊重，因为它暗示着专注和专注。
A “Yes” that comes out of your mouth when your head has been speeding through an unrelated to-do list while a colleague is talking—that yes is meaningless.The point is to be present and in the moment. Your “Yes,” spoken or not, must carry the power of thoughtfulness and understanding.
当同事在讲话时，您的头部一直在通过一个无关的待办事项清单时，您的嘴里就会听到“是”的声音。“是”毫无意义。要指出的是，此刻应该在场。不论您说与否，您的“是”必须带有深思熟虑和理解的力量。