I recommend reflecting on your experience with this chapter’s exercise before continuing. You can reflect about anything you found relevant, but here are some questions you may want to consider:

What fraction of your no, but, and however responses do you think you caught?

Did you notice changes in others’ reactions?

How do you imagine the different responses feel?

How else could you begin your responses?

Do you think others noticed a difference?

Where and how might you apply your experience in the rest of your life?

Data from Exercise

Behave like a leader and others will respond to you like one. They respond to what you do and say, not what you intend, when your behavior differs from your intent, however unintentional the difference.
Negating people tends to provoke defensiveness and skepticism, the opposite of openness to your leadership. We commonly, however unintentionally and unconsciously, respond to people starting with the words no, but, and however. For example, “It’s a nice day today.”
“But it’s supposed to get cold later.”
or “I’m in the mood for Chinese food for dinner.”
“No, let’s get Thai.”
You may not think the words make that much difference or may not intend for them to, but you don’t get to choose how other people hear you.

What to Do 

This exercise is simple to describe but difficult to practice. Avoid starting responses to people with the words no, but, or however. Use the words whenever else you want, just not to begin a response. After the exercise you can go back to starting responses with them, although I recommend you stick with the practice.