My next radio show will be featuring Jackie Kelm who worked with colleagues at Case Western Reserve University to create the life-changing process called Appreciate Inquiry or AI for short.
What is Appreciative Inquiry and How Will It Improve My Life?
My next radio show will be featuring Jackie Kelm who worked with colleagues at Case Western Reserve University to create the life-changing process called Appreciate Inquiry or AI for short.
I became intrigued with the concept as I researched it on-line while I was gathering resources for my Happiness Hangout website. It seemed like a great way to not only help raise positivity at work and personally but be able to take communication to a new level. Here is a bit about it.
“Appreciative Inquiry is the cooperative search for the best in people, their organizations, and the world around them. It involves systematic discover of what gives a system ‘life’ when it is most effective and capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. AI involves the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a system’s capacity to heighten positive potential. It mobilizes inquiry through crafting an “unconditional positive question’ often involving hundreds or sometimes thousands of people.”
Cooperrider, D.L. & Whitney, D., “Appreciative Inquiry: A positive revolution in change.” In P. Holman & T. Devane (eds.), The Change Handbook, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., pages 245-263.
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The following are just some sample AI questions that may be used as we come from our positive core:
What are the dilemmas/opportunities in (your situation)?
What assumptions do we need to test or challenge here in thinking about (your situation)?
What’s emerging here for you? What new connections are you making?
What could happen that would enable you/us to feel fully engaged and energized about (your
Situation)?
What’s possible here and who cares? (rather than “What’s wrong here and who’s responsible?”
If our success was completely guaranteed, what bold steps might we choose?
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I understand that this process may seem a bit daunting from just reading a short blog post so let’s see more about how it can be applied to an individual’s life using Appreciative Living Circles (ALC). In ALC, you will question your stories about what is going on in your life, and learn powerful exercises you can use to transform difficult situations. You then explore a 3-step appreciative process for handling problematic situations and relationships, and creating what you most desire in your life. The outcome, if applied to your life, is more energy and the ability to remain calm and focused as you work through life in good and challenging situations. You can come from a more strengths-based positive core which will help enhance all relationships.
Increasing our communication skills is always a benefit in our lives. We resonate with some things and not others and this could be a great resource in our tool box to utilize. I am excited to bring this information to you through my website and Radio show. Hope it helps take your life to the next level!
