Appreciative Inquiry
What is ‘Appreciative Inquiry (AI)'?
As the title suggests, AI is a strengths-based approach, the emphasis being on learning from and building on what is already working well. It approaches change from a holistic framework, with its basic orientation being possibility-focused rather than problem-focused.
The research underpinning AI suggests that in any organisation or system if you look for problems you will find them. If you focus your attention on what is going wrong, what is going wrong becomes the reality and will be amplified. Whereas, if you focus on what is going right and build on the ‘rightness’ you are more likely to create a growing, improving, successful team, group or organisation.
Focusing on difficulties can lead to a loss of energy. It can be self-defeating, cause fragmentation, and contribute to a defensive or negative culture. Focusing on strengths raises energy and spirits and people become enthused and engaged.
How can Appreciative Inquiry be used to improve organisational performance?
An appreciative inquiry can help organisations with:
• Mission statement/vision development
• Strategic planning
• Organisational/system redesign
• Process and service enhancement
• Building partnerships and stakeholder relationships
• Improvement initiatives
• Group culture change
• Civic/community development
• Umbrella for multiple change initiatives in a system
What approach is taken to achieve this?
Our consultants engage with you to discover your most desired future, grown from what has gone well in the past. This is a creative process, involving left and right brain activity. We then help you to translate your dreams into reality.
The process involves crafting ‘unconditionally positive questions’ to search out strengths, potential and possibilities.
AI Principles are adapted and customised to each individual situation; and the full AI process typically includes:
1. Selecting a focus area or topic(s) of interest
2. Conducting interviews designed to discover strengths, passions, unique attributes
3. Identifying patterns, themes and/or intriguing possibilities
4. Creating bold statements of ideal possibilities (‘Provocative Propositions’)
5. Co-determining ‘what could be’ (consensus re principles and priorities)
6. Taking/sustaining action
Talk to us about how Appreciative Inquiry can help develop your organisation. Call +44 (0)20 8371 7011 or submit an online enquiry form.
This is a sample programme. It can be tailored in content, duration and format to suit your organisation.
Call us now on +44 (0)20 8371 7011 or outline your requirements.
Run courses In-Company
If you have 4 or more people who would benefit from this training, why not consider running it in-house?
- Tailored content
- Significant cost savings
- Choice of time and location
- Flexible delivery options
Call us now on
+44 (0)20 8371 7011
or send us an outline of your requirements.
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