Excellent Futures
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a model of positive change that asks questions about what is going “right” instead of what is going “wrong”.
Appreciative Inquiry was developed in the mid-1980s by David Cooperrider at Case Western Reserve University, and Suresh Srivastva, professor emeritus of Organisational Behaviour at Weatherhead School of Management.
They saw an opportunity to approach challenges in business organisations differently, and AI has since been applied to social, business, education, government and other settings.
A typical Appreciative Inquiry design (called the 4D cycle of Appreciative Inquiry) would have four stages.
- Discovery – Inquire into the best of the past and the present. Choose the positive as the focus of inquiry.
- Dream – Use the findings and stories from the Discovery phase to create a compelling, memorable and ambitious picture of the desired future. Locate themes that appear in stories and select topics for further inquiry.
- Design – Create shared images of a preferred future. Determine what should be.
- Destiny – Determine what will be. Find innovative ways to create that future.
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The diagram above is from this excellent post about Appreciative Inquiry by Cathy Sharp, Belinda Dewar and Karen Barrie.
Appreciative Inquiry focuses on what an organisation desires most in the future — its possibilities for excellence—in contrast with concentrating attention on past problems or difficulties.
Collaboratively identifying valued aspects of current reality transforms the present situation and shared meaning about past practices.
The process encourages participants to dialogue around shared aspirations rather than debate over differences and conflicts; it thus lays the groundwork for constructive action rather than unproductive argumentation.There is no single AI method. AI is essentially a set of core principles that claim to change existing patterns of conversation and ways of relating, and give voice to new and diverse perspectives to expand what can be possible.
Ludema, Cooperrider and Barrett, 2001.
If you want to dig deeper into the core principles, I recommend the post linked above: Forming new futures through appreciative inquiry
Caring Conversations
A practical example of Appreciative Inquiry that I know you will find helpful, is the Caring Conversations framework. This was developed in a healthcare study from 2008 that explored compassionate care in an acute care setting for older people.
The emphasis of the study was to support the development of relational capacity – a critical component of our work in education too.
The CCF comprises 7 key attributes that guide people to have conversations that are courageous, connect people emotionally, foster curiosity, consider other perspectives, facilitate collaboration, compromise and celebrate what works well.
Caring Conversations (CC) is a flexible practice framework that applies Appreciative Inquiry. It supports practitioners in facilitating generative, appreciative, and relational capacities.
This includes the ‘7Cs’ – seven attributes to promote appreciative, caring conversations. The 7Cs model is a lovely tool for organising our talk, discussion and perhaps dialogue.
Caring Self-Reflection
The self-reflective questions below were developed in the published study – ref: Table 5 p25.
Be Courageous
- What might help me to feel able to take a risk?
- What question is begging to be asked?
- What story is longing to be told?
- What is the worst thing that could happen if I gave this a go?
Be Celebratory
- What do I value?
- What do I do well?
- What mistakes might I like to celebrate?
- What new idea would I like to bring forward into the future?
Connect Emotionally
- How do I feel?
- When did I experience strong emotion?
- What if I told others how I was feeling?
- How would I like to feel?
Be Curious
- What assumptions do I have that might be shaping how I relate to another?
- What caught my attention?
- Where might it be leading us?
- When was I most energised?
- What assumptions or contradictions have come to light?
- What am I focusing my attention on and privileging?
Consider other perspectives
- How might I express myself in a way that is considerate of others?
- How can I ensure that those who aren’t present still feel included?
- What alternative views might I explore?
Collaborate
- With whom do I feel heard?
- Who brings out the best in me?
- What might help us to come together more?
- What can I offer?
- What ideas/actions would I like to build on?
- How do I want to be involved?
Compromise
- What do I hope for?
- What can I not let go of?
- What would I like to let go of?
- What promises feel possible?
Your Talking Points
- Appreciative inquiry runs counter to problem-centric views of change.
- What are the constraints of only using a problem-based approach?
- What opportunity do you have to use the Caring Conversations questions?
- Why is this more useful than just ‘more optimism’?
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