Appreciative Inquiry - Define and Discover - (A Practical Workshop)

Ground 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

The “4-D Cycle” Discover Deliver Dream DEFINE Affirmative Topic Choice “What gives life?” (The best of what is) Appreciating Deliver “How to empower, learn, and adjust/improvise?” Sustaining Dream “What might be?” (What is the world calling for) Envisioning Results DEFINE Affirmative Topic Choice Design “What should be - the ideal?” Co-constructing

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

DEFINE: Topic Choice A Fateful Act: People, organisations and communities move in the direction of what we most frequently and systematically ask questions about!

DEFINE: Deficit Problems to Affirmative Topics Deficit Issues Family Dysfunction Staff Turnover Affirmative Topics Positive Family Resilience Attracting & Keeping Great Staff Early School Leavers Low Morale Funding Uncertainty Behavioural Problems “Turf” conflict between organisations

Sample Affirmative Topic(s) Our Teachers as Catalysts of Student Achievement Echuca SC as a Top Performing School Goals

Our Affirmative Topic(s) Echuca SC could most benefit right now from an Appreciative Inquiry into ….. Brainstorm Prioritise

Genius is in Creating 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: The 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?

DISCOVER An 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)

DISCOVER An 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.

DISCOVER An Appreciative Inquiry Interview How do you feel right now? What did you appreciate about the experience?

Appreciative 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 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 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 COAT! Curiosity Openness Appreciation Trust

DISCOVER One goal is to seek the root cause of success

Themes & Principles to Preserve Assign team roles: Discussion Coordinator; Timekeeper; Recorder; Reporter Uncover themes from interviews Create Principles to Preserve for the future

Discover the Past What have we learned about our common past? What principles are important to preserve for our future?

In This Session Very brief introduction Define and Discover – limited experience

Solid Steps to Achieve our Goals Deliver Design Plans Dream Projects Possibility Statement Discovery Principles to Preserve Uncover Themes Appreciative Interviews

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) Show during breakout and play music.

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. (Goethe) WIN song

Acknowledgements 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 JAMES PO Box 197 Boronia, VIC, 3156 Phone: (03) 9758 2528 Mobile: 0402 979 384 Email: info@suejames.com.au Web: www.suejames.com.au www.appreciativeinquiry.com.au www.aiconsulting.com.au