Reflect the actor's idea back before you offer an alternative.

technique — attributed to Jason Alexander

When a performer advocates for an approach Alexander does not agree with, his default response is to try it. They deserve the opportunity to share their point of view, and the choice may illuminate something he had not thought of. When the choice does not work, he names what the actor was advocating for, in their own framing, before naming what he is advocating for and why. Acknowledging the contribution fully makes the actor far more receptive to the alternative. The reflection is not a politeness device. It is the mechanism by which the conversation stays creative rather than hierarchical.

For anyone in a director, manager, or editor role giving notes on someone else's work. The technique works across creative disciplines, not just performance.

feedback, active-listening, negotiation, creative-collaboration