**The No Buts tool**

TO BE COMPLETED

This is a very simple and playful way to encourage creativity within team discussions and collaborative working.
It may also contribute to the levelling process that reduces team hierarchy and creates a more positive team spirit

In our workshops we noted that some individuals are in the habit of introducing a strongly negative critique.
This can have a surprisingly big impact on the creative potential of a team, especially when it is small.
This is because, social groups do not work in a summative way. They are relational:
- In a team of 8 - each person is responsible for at least 25% of all team relations.
- In a team of 4 - each person is responsible for at least 50% of all team relations.
- In a team of 3 - each person is responsible for at least 66.66% of all team relations.
- In a team of 2 - each person is responsible for 100% of all team relations.

After some protracted difficulties with one particular person we banned the use of the word 'but' in our team discussions.
This was based on the observation that decision-making procedures may be over-influenced by questions of truth.
While this process may lead to eventual decisions and practical outcomes reached, this can take too many stages.

Person A makes a statement.
Person B disagrees
Person A feels challenged and asks why s/he disagrees
Person B explains what s/he doesn't like about the original statement
Person A defends the original statement
Person B disagreement continues until person A accepts the rebuttal and
- modifies his/her position.
Person A understands and revises the statement etc.

ITERATION UNTIL...

The No Buts tool