TheoryTheory AiAiExploring the Power of the Exploring the Power of the Upward Spiral in Corporate Upward Spiral in Corporate Performance, Change, and Performance, Change, and Contribution to Society Contribution to Society

David L. CooperriderDavid L. Cooperrider

Case Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve University

An Open Moment…An Open Moment… We Are “In We Are “In It.”It.”

Story With 1000 CEOs Story With 1000 CEOs at Ground Zero.at Ground Zero.

Creative Spirit/Energy Creative Spirit/Energy in OD’s Early Days. in OD’s Early Days.

Its Time to Re-think Its Time to Re-think - - wholeness/connectivitywholeness/connectivity - - exciting new exciting new research - research - positive revolutionpositive revolution

An Interactive Session An Interactive Session With Vivid Stories & With Vivid Stories & Images Images Opening “mini” Ai inquiry & OverviewOpening “mini” Ai inquiry & Overview

Stories, video clips, illustrations of Ai in Stories, video clips, illustrations of Ai in action at places like Roadway Express, US action at places like Roadway Express, US Navy, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Navy, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, EPA/ORDEPA/ORD

Ai in New Research Context: e.g. work at Ai in New Research Context: e.g. work at Univ. of Michigan, Case Western Reserve Univ. of Michigan, Case Western Reserve University, University of Virginia.University, University of Virginia.

Opening InquiryOpening Inquiry

Questions for Discovery—Questions for Discovery—individual reflection firstindividual reflection first

Conversation (pairs)Conversation (pairs)

1. Exploring the 1. Exploring the affective side affective side of a memorable change of a memorable change initiativeinitiative……

Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke frequently about the Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke frequently about the magic and power of things like hope, inspiration, joy. magic and power of things like hope, inspiration, joy. He said, for example, “ nothing great was ever He said, for example, “ nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”—that it spells the achieved without enthusiasm”—that it spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment difference between mediocrity and accomplishment and that it lights up our own and the lives of those and that it lights up our own and the lives of those around us. around us.

You, as well as everyone here, have been part of You, as well as everyone here, have been part of many transformational initiatives—in corporations, in many transformational initiatives—in corporations, in communities, etc. Certainly there have been ups and communities, etc. Certainly there have been ups and downs, peaks and valleys, high points and low points. downs, peaks and valleys, high points and low points. As you do a quick scan of moments of in your life or As you do a quick scan of moments of in your life or career where you joined with others to create change career where you joined with others to create change or innovation, I would like you to reflect on or innovation, I would like you to reflect on one one transformational initiativetransformational initiative that stands out as a high that stands out as a high point for you point for you in terms of experiences or qualities in terms of experiences or qualities like inspiration, hope, energy, enthusiasm, joy? like inspiration, hope, energy, enthusiasm, joy?

Exploring the High Point Exploring the High Point Change Initiative in More Change Initiative in More Depth:Depth: Share the story with your partner: what Share the story with your partner: what

happened, where, when?happened, where, when? Describe the feelings, and explore: what role did Describe the feelings, and explore: what role did

the experiences of inspiration, hope, enthusiasm, the experiences of inspiration, hope, enthusiasm, or joy play? For you and your leadership? Impact or joy play? For you and your leadership? Impact on the relationships, or group?on the relationships, or group?

How were the feelings catalyzed or cultivated?How were the feelings catalyzed or cultivated? What was it What was it about youabout you that made the effort that made the effort

emerge as a high point—name the 3 best emerge as a high point—name the 3 best qualities you bring to change leadership?qualities you bring to change leadership?

What were the corporate or community results?What were the corporate or community results?

Starting Ai Starting Ai InterviewInterview

(dialogue in pairs)(dialogue in pairs)

A-->B (5-6 minutes)A-->B (5-6 minutes) B-->A (5-6 minutes)B-->A (5-6 minutes)

Spirit of discoverySpirit of discovery Brief notes Brief notes At the end.. At the end.. summary & thanks summary & thanks

Exciting Positive Change Exciting Positive Change Research: Patterns Across Research: Patterns Across

DisciplinesDisciplines

What Good Are Positive Emotions?•Broaden-and-Build Theory•The Emotion of Elevation

•Upward Spiral as Change Model

Words Create Worlds•Inner Dialogue Research

•Media Studies/ Social Construction•Affirmative Capacity and Leadership

•Implications for Organizations?

Positive Image- Positive Action

•Positive Health Studies•Pygmalion in Education•Rise and Fall of Cultures

Positive Emotions Positive Emotions BroadenBroadenThought-Action Thought-Action RepertoiresRepertoires

Joy…………………………...play, innovateJoy…………………………...play, innovate

Interest……………………..expansive, exploreInterest……………………..expansive, explore

Contentment……………...savor, integrateContentment……………...savor, integrate

Love…………………………..connect, relateLove…………………………..connect, relate

Empirical Support for Empirical Support for “Broaden and Build” Theory “Broaden and Build” Theory of Changeof Change

Three “Revolutionary” Contributions:Three “Revolutionary” Contributions:

1.1. Broaden Attention and ThinkingBroaden Attention and Thinking

(Fredrickson & Branigan, 2002; Waugh & Fredrickson, in prep)(Fredrickson & Branigan, 2002; Waugh & Fredrickson, in prep)

2.2. Undo Lingering Negative Emotional ArousalUndo Lingering Negative Emotional Arousal (Fredrickson & Levenson, 1998; Fredrickson, Mancuso, Branigan & Tugade, (Fredrickson & Levenson, 1998; Fredrickson, Mancuso, Branigan & Tugade,

2000)2000)

3.3. Fuel Resilient Coping, Like Immune SystemFuel Resilient Coping, Like Immune System(Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh & Larkin, 2002; Tugade & Fredrickson, 2002)(Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh & Larkin, 2002; Tugade & Fredrickson, 2002)

Empirical SupportEmpirical Support

Over time, Positive Emotions:Over time, Positive Emotions:

Prevent depression Prevent depression (Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh, & Larkin, 2002)(Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh, & Larkin, 2002)

Build optimism, and resilience, and elevated Build optimism, and resilience, and elevated

relationships of benefit relationships of benefit (Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh, & Larkin, 2002; (Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh, & Larkin, 2002;

Haight 2003)Haight 2003)

Trigger Upward Spirals to Increase Well-being Trigger Upward Spirals to Increase Well-being

(Fredrickson & Joiner, 2002; Tugade & (Fredrickson & Joiner, 2002; Tugade &

Fredrickson, 2002)Fredrickson, 2002)

What Does All This Mean for What Does All This Mean for Our Work With Organizational Our Work With Organizational

Change?Change?

What Good Are Positive Emotions?•Broaden-and-Build Theory•The Emotion of Elevation

•Upward Spiral as Change Model

Words Create Worlds•Inner Dialogue Research

•Media Studies/ Social Construction•Affirmative Capacity and Leadership

•Implications for Organizations?

Positive Image- Positive Action

•Positive Health Studies•Pygmalion in Education•Rise and Fall of Cultures

For Us It Began to Raise New For Us It Began to Raise New Awareness the Deficit Theory Awareness the Deficit Theory of Change…And How of Change…And How Pervasive.Pervasive. Identify problemIdentify problem Conduct root Conduct root

cause analysiscause analysis Brainstorm Brainstorm

solutionssolutionsand analyzeand analyze

Develop action Develop action plans/interventioplans/interventionn

““The signal accomplishment The signal accomplishment of the industrial age was the of the industrial age was the notion of continuous notion of continuous improvement. It remains the improvement. It remains the secular religion of most secular religion of most managers… has reached the managers… has reached the point of diminishing returns point of diminishing returns in incremental improvement in incremental improvement programs.”programs.”

– Gary Hamel– Gary Hamel Leading The RevolutionLeading The Revolution

Metaphor: Organizations are problems to be solved

Cultural Consequences Cultural Consequences of Deficit Discourseof Deficit Discourse

FragmentationFragmentation Few New Images of PossibilityFew New Images of Possibility ““The Experts Must Know”…Dependence The Experts Must Know”…Dependence

and Hierarchyand Hierarchy Spirals in Deficit Vocabularies Spirals in Deficit Vocabularies Breakdown Relations/Closed Door Breakdown Relations/Closed Door

PlanningPlanning

Note: For More see Ken Gergen Note: For More see Ken Gergen Realities and Realities and RelationshipsRelationships Harvard University Press. Harvard University Press.

Ai Involves a ShiftAi Involves a Shift: : Organizations Are Centers of Organizations Are Centers of

Human Relatedness, Alive With Human Relatedness, Alive With Infinite Capacity, Strength, Infinite Capacity, Strength,

PossibilityPossibility

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

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

– – Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein

New “Life Centric” New “Life Centric” Questions—Inquiry Questions—Inquiry isis ChangeChange

Be patient … and try to love the Be patient … and try to love the questions themselves. Live the questions themselves. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day it, live along some distant day into the answer.into the answer.

– – Rainer Maria RilkeRainer Maria Rilke

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

AchievementsAchievements Strategic Strategic

opportunitiesopportunities Technical assetsTechnical assets InnovationsInnovations Elevated thoughtsElevated thoughts Best practicesBest practices Positive emotionsPositive emotions Financial assetsFinancial assets

Tacit WisdomTacit Wisdom Core competencyCore competency Visions of possibilityVisions of possibility Vital traditionsVital traditions Positive macrotrendsPositive macrotrends Social capitalSocial capital Strengths: Business Strengths: Business

ecosystem e.g. ecosystem e.g. strengths suppliers, strengths suppliers, partners, customerspartners, customers

The “Positive The “Positive Core”Core”

Ai systematically and collaboratively Ai systematically and collaboratively creates a knowledge link between the creates a knowledge link between the entire enterprise and the life-generating entire enterprise and the life-generating core of past, present, core of past, present, andand future future capacities…and this ignites changecapacities…and this ignites change

Discovery“What gives life?”(The best of what is)

Appreciating

Discovery“What gives life?”(The best of what is)

Appreciating

Dream“What might be?”

(What is the world calling for)

Envisioning Results

Dream“What might be?”

(What is the world calling for)

Envisioning Results

Design“What should be--the ideal?”

Co-constructing

Design“What should be--the ideal?”

Co-constructing

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

Sustaining

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

Sustaining

Appreciative Inquiry “4-D” Cycle

AffirmativeTopic Choice

Two Stories, Real Two Stories, Real IllustrationsIllustrations

Roadway Express—inquiry into total Roadway Express—inquiry into total engagementengagement

United States Navy—leadership at every United States Navy—leadership at every level.level.

How Inquiry Itself Intervenes—Notice the How Inquiry Itself Intervenes—Notice the energy, the breaking down of barriers, and energy, the breaking down of barriers, and the power of wholeness to ignite the upward the power of wholeness to ignite the upward spiral of positive change and results.spiral of positive change and results.

Whole Organization Whole Organization Connection to the “Positive Connection to the “Positive

Core”Core”

ElevatesElevates: : positive emotions of hope, positive emotions of hope, inspiration, confidence, joy; raises intelligence; inspiration, confidence, joy; raises intelligence; expands the language of life (internal expands the language of life (internal dialogue); increases in appreciative dialogue); increases in appreciative interchange and mutually elevating interchange and mutually elevating relationships; higher creativity, better decision relationships; higher creativity, better decision making, increased collective capacity.making, increased collective capacity.

““Undo” Negative Patterns: Undo” Negative Patterns: letting go, letting go, makes irrelevant, finishes the residual of makes irrelevant, finishes the residual of negative past.negative past.

Protection in Future: Protection in Future: IncreasesIncreases health-health-ability; resilience; accumulation of power; like ability; resilience; accumulation of power; like an increase in immune system functioning.an increase in immune system functioning.

What is Unfolding at What is Unfolding at Roadway ExpressRoadway Express

Recently Featured in Fast Company. Forbes.Recently Featured in Fast Company. Forbes. Leaders Developing Leaders at Every LevelLeaders Developing Leaders at Every Level Line of Site Innovations: “$ 10 mill metal Line of Site Innovations: “$ 10 mill metal

stick story”stick story” Powerful Learning Partnerships: Alcoa, Powerful Learning Partnerships: Alcoa,

Boeing, Cisco, Harley-Davidson, US Navy. Boeing, Cisco, Harley-Davidson, US Navy. Last Quarter’s Results W&I—Top 5 Last Quarter’s Results W&I—Top 5

Terminals Leading the Company in $17 Terminals Leading the Company in $17 million improvement in profit margin—All million improvement in profit margin—All OE Sites, 3 with Ai SummitsOE Sites, 3 with Ai Summits

The Surprise of The Surprise of Friendship!Friendship! One could say a key task in One could say a key task in

life is to discover and define life is to discover and define our life purpose, and then our life purpose, and then accomplish it to the best of accomplish it to the best of our abilityour ability.  .         

Can you share a story of a Can you share a story of a moment, or the period of time, moment, or the period of time, where where clarity about life clarity about life purposepurpose emerged for you. For emerged for you. For example, a moment where your example, a moment where your calling happened, where there calling happened, where there was an important awakening or was an important awakening or teaching, where there was a teaching, where there was a special experience or event, or special experience or event, or where you received some where you received some guiding vision?guiding vision?

Elevating of Inquiry intoThe Appreciable World Advancing

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Ai Theory of Positive Organizational ChangeAi Theory of Positive Organizational Change

Elevation and

Extension of Inquiry

Fusion of Strength

Activation of

Energy

We Are Born To We Are Born To Appreciate: Appreciate: Three Facts Three Facts About All Human BeingsAbout All Human Beings ExceptionalityExceptionality EssentialityEssentiality Equality/Voice and VisionEquality/Voice and Vision

Website For Sharing AI Tools“Appreciative Inquiry Commons”

http://ai.cwru.edu

Bibliographies, Tools, Articles

For Ai Certificate 216-368-2551

Case Western Reserve University