by Carla Howard

And is such an underrated, ignored, and misunderstood word. Many of us were even taught to never start a sentence with And, it simply wasn’t worthy. <Sigh>

And yet, this single word is oh so powerful—here’s why I’m a fan of And.

It evokes:

• Inclusion
• Collaboration
• Growth
• Listening
• Sharing
• Trust

And, when we replace the words “but” or “however” with “and”—something magical happens. People become less defensive, resistant, and frustrated. There is a HUGE difference between saying:

“I understand your point Sally, but I don’t think the team has the resources to create the product.”

And:

“I understand your point Sally, and I don’t think the team has the resources to create the product.”

Can you feel the difference? I’m pretty sure Sally’s reaction and the rest of this conversation will be much more open and solution focused when And is on the team.

I’m considering starting an “And Fan Club,” who’s with me?

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Carla Howard is a professional speaker and mentor. Her passion is helping professional women become more influential and promotable so they can rise with confidence and grace. You can learn more about her and the services she offers by visiting her website at TheProfessionalWomansMentor.com. Carla would love to answer your questions in future articles, so please email them to Carla@TheProfessionalWomansMentor.com.