|
Appreciative Enquiry...“ . . . it is through
language that we create the world, because it’s nothing
until we describe it. And when we describe it, we create
distinctions that govern our actions. To put it another
way, we do not describe the world we see, but we see the
world we describe.” -
Joseph Jaworski
As
it has evolved, there are a number of ways in which to
conduct an Appreciative Inquiry (AI)Team Building but the processes all tend
to follow a common path of four phases: Discovery
(conducting appreciative interviews and identifying the
themes and life-giving forces), Dream (developing
provocative propositions for the future), Design
(integrating wishes for the future with plans for needed
changes to structure, systems and processes) and Destiny
(making it happen and making it sustainable over time
Appreciative enquiry is a new way of
approaching problem solving, team-building and solution
development.
Appreciative Inquiry works from a set of assumptions.
1. In every society, organisation or group, something works
well.
2. What we focus on, becomes our reality.
3. Reality is created in the moment, and there are multiple
realities.
4. The act of asking questions of a person, or group
influences the group/person in some way.
5. People have more confidence to journey to the future (the
unknown) when they carry forward parts of the past (the
known).
6. If we carry forward parts of the past, they should be
what is best about our past.
7. It is important to value differences.
8. The language we use creates our reality and experience.
The Appreciativer Inquiry Way...
While these may seem obvious, we know from our own
experience that we can look at what isn’t working and start
problem solving. This pulls us backwards/downwards rather
than forwards. If we focus on difficulties in the past,
people become self defensive and feel that life is
hopeless.
When we ask them about their successes, they
become enthusiastic and start to hope again and explore
possibility.
Appreciative Inquiry ‘5-D’ Cycle
Discovery: The Appreciative Inquiry approach to personal, or organisational, change is to begin by looking for what is
working -APPRECIATING the best of our experience.
Dream: This is to consider what might be - ENVISIONING RESULTS
Design: What should be the ideal? - CO-CONSTRUCTING
Destiny: How to empower, learn & adjust or improvise -
SUSTAINING
Do-It: Action towards achievement - Commitment,
response, action
The tangible result of the Appreciative Inquiry process is a
series of statements that describe where the person or
organisation wants to be, based on the best moments of where
they have been.
Because these statements are based in real
experience and history, people know how to repeat their
success. They have created before, they can create once
again. The purpose is to reconnect with the life giving
forces-what is working, and then go beyond that to, what
could be if we expanded our paradigm of possibility.
2. COACHING EXAMPLES
* Discovery - What do you want more of?
Tell me about those times in your career when you felt most
alive, engaged, energized; when everything worked to produce
the desired results.
What factors in the environment, the organization, the team
contributed to this wonderful experience? What did you do to
contribute?
What do you value about yourself as a professional and what
you have to offer?
What is the core factor which gives life to your work,
without which work would not be the same?
What 3 wishes would you make to enhance the life and
vitality of your work and life?
* Dream - Guided imagery or meditation followed by creation
of story, picture, song, etc. which depicts the ideal future
work situation. Creation of the ideal job description, life
style or experiences.
* Design - Creation of a purpose statement. Creation of a
resume geared to the desired situation. Creation of a
profile of the ideal company. Evolution of a strategy for
creating an incredible experience or lifestyle.
*
Destiny: How do you make a difference that really makes
a difference on a sustainable basis, that fits in with your
passion, talents & capabilities.
* DO-IT! What can you do right now to move powerfully
towards your Purpose in an incremental, step by step
process.
“The truth is that within each one of us lies the power to
cast all misery aside and to KNOW complete Peace and Oneness
- to BE that beautiful creation of perfect harmony - to
truly know (help) Myself.” - Mary_Burmeister
Life Masters International Appreciative Inquiry Team Building - Tony Dovale |
