This is something I teach every one of my students and clients on day 1, and you ought to use it yourself and teach it to your clients as well: There are no “buts" if you aim for an effective communication. When you use it, for example, “yes, but…” or “sure, but…”, you break rapport. You confirmed the validity of the other person’s opinion, “but” you suddenly contradict it. You may state your opinion, and it may be the complete opposite of the other person’s. However, it would serve you better to use the connective ‘and’ instead of ‘but’.

“You felt like I got angry at you, and I can assure you that I was not.” Compare how this sentence feels with, “You felt like I got angry at you, but I can assure you that I was not.” The second sentence gives the impression that the person was wrong to think what he thought. The first phrase, though, implies that it was my responsibility to explain how I really felt.  If it’s important to you to maintain rapport with a certain person, end the “buts.”