Appreciative Inquiry: The Positive Core of Change

Sponsored by University of St. Thomas OD Program and MN OD Network

Presented by David L. CooperriderCase Western Reserve University

(http://appreciativeinquiry.cwru.edu)

Appreciative Inquiry is a Shift…

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew.”

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

– Albert Einstein

Ap-pre’ci-ate, v.,1. Valuing …

• The act of recognizing the best in people and the world around us;

• Affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials;

• To perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, and excellence) to living systems.

2. To increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. • Synonyms: valuing, prizing, esteeming,

and honoring.

In-quire’ (kwir), v.,

1. The act of exploration and discovery.

2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities.Synonyms: discovery, search, study and

systematic exploration.

What would you call it?(all these things taken together)

• Achievements

• Strategic opportunities

• Cooperative Moments

• Technical assets

• Innovations

• Elevated thoughts

• Community assets

• Positive emotions

• Financial assets

• Community wisdom

• Core competencies

• Visions of possibility

• Vital traditions, values

• Positive macrotrends

• Social capital

• Embedded knowledge

• Business ecosystems

Problem Solving or Appreciative Inquiry

Problem Solving:

Identify problem

Root cause analysis

Solutions & analyze

Develop action plans

Metaphor: Organizations are problems to be solved

Appreciative Inquiry:

Appreciate “What is”

Imagine “What Might Be”

Determine “What Should Be”

Create “What Will Be”

Metaphor: Organizations are a mystery to be

explored.

Principles of “AI”

• Constructionist Principle: • Words create worlds; meaning is socially created, through

language & conversations.

• Principle of Simultaneity: • Inquiry creates change; the moment we ask a question, we

begin to create change.

• Poetic Principle: • We can choose what we study; organizations, like open

books, are endless sources of information & learning.

• Anticipatory Principle: • Human systems move in the direction of their images;

what we choose to study makes a difference.

Principles of “AI”

• Positive Principle: • Positive questions lead to positive change.

• Wholeness Principle: • Wholeness brings out the best in people & organization;

bringing all stakeholders together in a group forum that stimulates creativity and builds collective capacity.

• Enactment Principle: • To really make change, we must “be the change we want

to see.”

• Free Choice Principle: • People perform better and are more committed when they

have the freedom to choose how and what they want to contribute.

Appreciative Inquiry “4-D”

DiscoveryDiscovery““What gives life?”What gives life?”

(The best of what is)(The best of what is)

AppreciatingAppreciating

DiscoveryDiscovery““What gives life?”What gives life?”

(The best of what is)(The best of what is)

AppreciatingAppreciating

DreamDream““What might be?”What might be?”(What is the world(What is the world

calling for)calling for)Envisioning ResultsEnvisioning Results

DreamDream““What might be?”What might be?”(What is the world(What is the world

calling for)calling for)Envisioning ResultsEnvisioning Results

DesignDesign““What should be—What should be—

the ideal?”the ideal?”

Co-constructingCo-constructing

DesignDesign““What should be—What should be—

the ideal?”the ideal?”

Co-constructingCo-constructing

DestinyDestiny““How to empower, learn,How to empower, learn,

and improvise?”and improvise?”

SustainingSustaining

DestinyDestiny““How to empower, learn,How to empower, learn,

and improvise?”and improvise?”

SustainingSustaining

AffirmativeTopic Choice

Positive Topic Choice

• Human systems move in the direction of what we deeply and persistently ask questions about

• Transformational topics are possible in any situation, and will generate more positive change—every time.

• The skill of framing and re-framing

The Art of the Question

• What’s the biggest problem here?

• Why did I have to be born in such a troubled family?

• Why do you blow it so often?

• Why do we still have those problems?

• What possibilities exist that we have not yet considered?

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

• What solutions would have us both win?

Genius is Creatingthe 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

The Power of AI Stories

• Stories stick like glue…

• Make information easier to remember…”Whole brain”

• Builds identities and fosters relationships

• Medium for conveying values, visions

• Moves the internal dialogue of the system

• Human Hope…

Discovery•Opportunity & Call

•Positive Core•History

Discovery•Opportunity & Call

•Positive Core•History

Dream•Purpose

•New Story

Dream•Purpose

•New Story

Design•Provocative Propositions

Design•Provocative Propositions

Destiny•People &Actions

•Learning & Improvisation

Destiny•People &Actions

•Learning & Improvisation

AI “4-D” Cycle

Starting AI Interview (dialogue in pairs)

•A-->B (15 min)•B-->A (15 min)• Spirit of discovery• Take brief notes • At the end.. summary & thanks • Return

The Appreciative Interview:Initial Instructions

• Each person will conduct an interview and be interviewed.

• Select someone that you don’t know (bring workbook and a pen or pencil)

The Appreciative Interview: Guidelines

• Have fun!

• Listen intently and ask questions

• Try to understand behavior and values

• Active listening techniques

The Appreciative Interview: Dealing with Negatives

• By all means listen

• Be empathic

• Find the underlying hope or the missing ideal

• Guide the person back

The Appreciative Interview: Final Instructions

• Follow me

• Seek stories by asking who, what, when, where, why, and how

• Take good notes of the stories and what you find most compelling

Question 1 Peak Church Experience• Take a minute to reflect upon your involvement and

relationship with your current church. You most likely have had some high-point experiences with this community of believers.

• Talk about a moment that truly stands out as a “peak experience” at your church -- a time when you felt most engaged, worthwhile, loved, committed, connected, or close to God.

• Please share the story…what happened? When? Where? What was it about you, the others around you, or your relationship with Christ, that made it a high point?

Question 2Positive Core of the Presbytery

• What aspects of a presbytery at its best do you believe are so vital that they should remain core to its identity?

• What qualities (i.e. strengths, structures, processes, values, beliefs, etc.) do you believe should be foundational as this presbytery moves into the future?

• Give an example of one of these qualities in action.

Question 3Dynamic Organizations• Think about organizations that have deeply impressed you.

• What it is that makes these organizations stand out in your mind?

• Is it the leadership philosophy, creative approach to its mission, unique delivery of its product or services, flexible organizational design, or some other qualities?

• What makes them so exceptional?

• Can you share a story about these qualities in action?

Question 4 - Relationship in the Midst of Differences• Tell a story of an experience you have had when you were

part of an enriching and prosperous relationship with another person, at work, or in your personal, community, or church life, despite having significantly different beliefs, outlooks on life, or ways of being.

• Who was involved?

• What was present in the relationship that allowed it to flourish?

• What were the outcomes and benefits that you experienced?

Question 5God’s Call• Engaging in an envisioning process provides an opportunity to

listen carefully to God’s call. It is an opportunity to push the creative edges, to do new things, and to wonder and pray about our ministry’s greatest potentials -- both as congregations and as a presbytery.

• What is your sense of what God is calling us to be and to do?

• What do you think is God’s desire for us in terms of our life together in the midst of differences?

• It is likely that you come with ideas that are already formed – and that is OK. Yet, we gather in the expectation that God will speak to us. In light of this we will take a few minutes now for silent prayer prior to answering this question.

Question 6Miracle Question (Part 1)

Imagine that one day you wake up and God has answered our prayers and miraculously given us a new and beautiful and meaningful life together. The presbytery has become something you would most like to see for yourself and friends, for children, for our community and for our world. It is a dynamic organization and its members are experiencing an abundant spiritual life and accomplishing great things for the kingdom of God -- even in the midst of differences. It is seen as an astounding development and other presbyteries, and even other denominations, are clamoring to learn what has happened. You are moved and proud in a heartfelt way. It’s the kind of presbytery and faith community you most want to be part of -- one that is living God’s call in fresh, vibrant, meaningful and powerful ways. (Continued)

Question 6Miracle Question (Part 2)• Please share some highlights of what you see in this vision

of the presbytery: What do you see happening that is vital and good?

• What is happening that is new, different, or better?

• What do the relationships between the congregations and the presbyteries, and the congregations with each other, look like?

• Before you answer this question, we will again take a few minutes for silent prayer in the hope that God speaks to us.