If I had to pick one communication shift that has genuinely changed how I show up at work and in my relationships, it would be this: Swapping “but” for “and.” I picked this up years ago from the world of improv comedy. The idea is that you never shut down the other person’s idea. You build on it. That’s how scenes work. That’s how momentum works. And that’s how people feel heard too. What’s wild is how often we use “but” without realizing what it does. “Your work is great, but…” “I love you, but