I just read Ben Cohen’s profile of Leo Yoshimura in his Science of Success column in this weekend’s The Wall Street Journal. Yoshimura, the legendary production designer at SNL – “the craziest deadline in television,” – has been with the show for 50 years.

The key to his longevity and success: saying yes. In his 50 years of Wednesday meetings with writers, he listens to all of their sketch and set ideas, and has learned to “avoid saying the dirtiest word in comedy, no. If you say no, you shut any discussion down. My feeling is that it’s more productive to say yes and always find a way to say yes.”

I talk a lot about just the opposite: saying no. The path of growth in my organization is directly tied to our ability to stay aligned and focused.

But a mindset of “yes” is how you get there. Yes doesn’t mean abandoning focus or discipline. I think it means leading with openness by being willing to explore, to reframe, to ask better questions.

So how do you cultivate a mindset of yes while staying focused, agile, and aligned (saying “no!”)?

David Novak talks about the power of approaching with good questions: “Learn how to be curious and open minded and make that a habit: ask questions.”

Adam Mendler puts it this way: “The best leaders recognize that as successful as they are, they don’t have all the answers. They’re lifelong learners. They’re inquisitive. They’re intellectually curious.”

That curiosity keeps doors open. Elena Lytkina Botelho of ghSMART, through the CEO Genome Project, found that exceptional leaders consistently view situations through a wider lens. They stay engaged with broader information flows, think about the future, and are good at letting go.

Jamie Dimon echoes this in a different way. He talks about curiosity as a form of recognition. To truly recognize someone else is to be curious about their perspective.

I’ve learned to take my “crazy ideas” to my team as soon as they show up. And what they do is remarkable. They don’t just say no. They help me say a better yes. A more focused yes that aligns with who we are and where we’re going, and we build that together.

At its core, saying yes isn’t about losing focus, but rather about staying open by replacing reflexive “no” with thoughtful exploration by creating a culture where ideas can breathe before they’re shaped, refined, or redirected.

I am very inspired by Leo’s journey at SNL and that for him, the key to longevity and love of his craft was embracing the chaos and the creativity by staying open, curious, and joyful – and always finding a way to say yes.