Appreciative Inquiry- Define and Discover -

(A Practical Workshop)

Ground RulesGround Rules

All ideas are valid Everything is captured: notes/ flip charts Listen to each other Observe time frames Seek common ground and action Differences and problems are acknowledged

– but not worked on

Discover“What gives life?”

(The best of what is)Appreciating

Dream“What might be?”

(What is the world calling for)Envisioning Results

Design“What should be - the ideal?”

Co-constructing

Deliver“How to empower, learn,and adjust/improvise?”

Sustaining

DEFINEAffirmative

Topic Choice

The “4-D Cycle”The “4-D Cycle”

Full AI ProcessFull AI Process

Select focus area or topic(s) of interest Conduct interviews designed to discover

strengths, passions, unique attributes Identify patterns, themes and/or intriguing

possibilities Create bold statements of ideal possibilities

("Provocative Propositions") Co-determine "what should be" (consensus

re: principles & priorities) Take/sustain action

Change & Co-CreationChange & Co-Creation

The best way to predict the future is to create it. (Peter Drucker)

DEFINE:DEFINE:Topic ChoiceTopic Choice

A Fateful Act:

People, organisations and communities move in the direction of what we most frequently and systematically ask questions about!

DEFINE:DEFINE:Deficit Problems toDeficit Problems to Affirmative Affirmative Topics Topics

Deficit Issues

Family Dysfunction Staff Turnover

Affirmative Topics

Positive Family Resilience Attracting & Keeping

Great Staff

Early School LeaversLow MoraleFunding UncertaintyBehavioural Problems“Turf” conflict between organisations

SampleSample Affirmative Topic(s) Affirmative Topic(s)

Our Teachers as Catalysts of Student Achievement

Echuca SC as a Top Performing School

Our Affirmative Topic(s)Our Affirmative Topic(s)

Echuca SC could most benefit right now from an Appreciative Inquiry into …..

Brainstorm Prioritise

Genius is Genius is in in Creating the QuestionCreating the Question

“What would the universe look like if I were riding on the end of a light beam at the speed of light?”(Albert Einstein)

DISCOVER:DISCOVER:The Art of the QuestionThe Art of the Question

What’s the biggest problem here?

Why do you mess up so often?

Why do we still have those problems?

Why does everything go wrong all the time?

What possibilities exist that we have not thought about yet?

What’s the smallest change that could make the biggest impact?

What solutions would have us all win?

What makes my questions inspiring, energizing, and mobilizing?

DISCOVERDISCOVERAn Appreciative Inquiry InterviewAn Appreciative Inquiry Interview

Form pairs with someone you least know

Use the interview question (on next slide) One speaks, the other listens and takes notes for

themes (10 minutes) Switch Other speaks, the first listens and takes notes for

themes (10 minutes) Debrief as group (5 minutes)

DISCOVERDISCOVERAn Appreciative Inquiry InterviewAn Appreciative Inquiry Interview

Describe a time when you successfully joined with others to significantly improve your school. It should be a time when you felt most alive and most effective. Tell the story.

DISCOVERDISCOVERAn Appreciative Inquiry InterviewAn Appreciative Inquiry Interview

How do you feel right now?

What did you appreciate about the experience?

Appreciative InterviewsAppreciative Interviews

Introduction Break the ice, explain

purpose etc Initial questions

Story of past or current experience

Follow-on questions To draw out details of

story Future questions

Future vision

The Interview RhythmThe Interview Rhythm

Explain Appreciative Inquiry Respect anonymity Start with specific stories Move to generalisations Listen for themes Keep track of time Have fun! It’s a conversation.

Managing the NegativeManaging the Negative

Postpone Listen Maintain caring and

affirmative spirit Redirect

Can also use “negative data”. Images of what is wrong imply what is wished for!

Don’t Forget Your Don’t Forget Your COATCOAT!!

Curiosity

Openness

Appreciation

Trust

DISCOVERDISCOVER

One goal is to seek the root cause of success

Themes & Principles to PreserveThemes & Principles to Preserve

Assign team roles: Discussion Coordinator; Timekeeper; Recorder; Reporter

Uncover themes from interviews Create Principles to Preserve for the future

Discover the PastDiscover the Past

What have we learned about our common past?

What principles are important to preserve for our future?

In This SessionIn This Session

Very brief introduction

Define and Discover – limited experience

Appreciative Interviews

UncoverThemes

Principles toPreserve

PossibilityStatement

Projects

Plans

Discovery

Dream

Design

Deliver

Solid Steps to Achieve our GoalsSolid Steps to Achieve our Goals

Questions to Ponder … Questions to Ponder …

Would a full AI process be helpful for us at Echuca SC?

If so, what can we build on from today’s conversations?

How can we bring all voices – the “whole system” – into the room?

What are the next steps? Who could form a core group to

move things forward?

When I dream alone, it is just a dream.

When we dream together, it is the beginning of reality.

When we work together, following our dream, it is the creation of heaven on earth.

(Adapted Brazilian Proverb)

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

(Goethe)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

A debt of gratitude is owed to the following people for generously sharing their time, wisdom and materials: David Cooperrider Sue Annis Hammond Gina Hinrichs Mac & Marcia Odell Marge Schiller Other members of the Positive Change Corps

and Appreciative Inquiry Consulting

SUE JAMESPO Box 197

Boronia, VIC, 3156Phone: (03) 9758 2528Mobile: 0402 979 384

Email: info@suejames.com.auWeb: www.suejames.com.au

www.appreciativeinquiry.com.auwww.aiconsulting.com.au