Appreciative Inquiry

There are books that instantly bore.  There are books that paint a whole new world and offer escape.  There are books that befriend and confirm already established beliefs.  There are books that come from places so foreign, they create discomfort and confuse.  There are books that claim one's attention, whispering a new possibility.

Lately I have been wandering through a rich and magnetic system of change management, Appreciative Inquiry.  I have been introduced to this by the book, Appreciative Inquiry ~ A Positive Revolution in Change, by David I. Cooperrider and Diane Whitney.  Frankly, I bought this particular book on the subject (there are many) because it was the cheapest one on the subject and often the smallest is the most succinct.  I just may spend a lot of time learning about AI as it appears to offer something I want, need and will use.

Primarily I was won over as soon as I read that it is based on asking intelligent questions; questions that are thoughtful, inspired and purposeful.  Secondly, to do this well, the asker must demonstrate a very deep respect for the other person by asking thoughtfully and listening with curiosity.  Nothing is glib or manipulative.  Both parties invests their best and, as you would hope, dividends are higher than expected.  Finally, there may be magic afoot, because the exchange is based in being positive in every direction. 

The asker is positive.  They know that their partner holds within themself a bright answer waiting to be beckoned.  The answerer is esteemed.  They know that the inquiry is a pan sifting for gold.  Instead of both parties sitting with black pens and big tablets, listing problems and searching for fixes, they believe that the fix already exists, it is only waiting for the light of an intelligent question.

I know that this is something I have been searching for.  It applies to many things which consume my thinking.  Frankly, I am just f'ing tired of identifying problems, trying to jury-rig solutions, why be the bearer of bad news all of the time and, more importantly, why be the bearer of any news?  Is my news more important, more informed, more valuable because I deem it so?  Could it be that my true service lies in asking informed questions which respect the person being asked and in trusting that they hold a valuable answer?

To be sure, more is on the way.         

Comments

[Wendy Werris]

What a fascinating concept, one that I need to learn much more about. I have been so sloppy over the years in my talk-before-thinking, or ask-before-thinking, behavior . . . It's my desire to engage people, rather than alienate them. Thank you for this. I'm going to get the book.

Love,
Wendy