Try “and”.
Instead of:
“This is a great idea but…”
How about:
“This is a great idea and…”
The former feels dismissive and judgemental. It whiffs of “I know best”.
The latter feels encouraging and productive. It smells of “Another idea to consider is”.
It’s nuanced but and important.
We don’t need your “but’s”.
We could use your “and’s”.
