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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Change & Co-Creation
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
(Peter Drucker)

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

7. 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

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

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

10. 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)

11. 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?

12. 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)

13. 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.

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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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!

18. Don’t Forget Your COAT!
Curiosity
Openness
Appreciation
Trust

19. DISCOVER
One goal is to seek the root cause of success

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

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

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

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

24. 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?

25. 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.

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

27. 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

28. SUE JAMES PO Box 197 Boronia, VIC, 3156 Phone: (03) 9758 2528
Mobile:
Web: