Not every bad idea is actually bad.
Some are just early. Or weird. Or delivered by someone who talks too much.
Still… you make the face.
Not a yes. Not a no.
Just a microsecond of: “Wait… did you just accidentally make sense?”
That’s the “you might be onto something” face.
It’s the pause before the pivot.
It’s the moment between “this is nonsense” and “…but what if?”
Because real negotiation isn’t just about knowing when to shut things down.
It’s about knowing when to stay curious without giving away the farm.
This face buys time.
It lets the other person feel seen without committing to the chaos.
You’re not saying yes.
You’re saying: you’ve got 30 more seconds before I kill this idea completely—go.
So yeah, practice your “are you kidding me?” face.
But also sharpen this one.
The one that says:
“I didn’t see that coming. But I’m listening…”
Even if what you’re really thinking is:
“This better get better fast.”