Appreciative Inquiry: Change Your Focus, Change Your Reality
Posted on June 09, 2019 by Holly Wright, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
AI involves ‘searching for the best’ in people, organizations, and communities through the discovery of ‘what gives life’ to a system.
On the first day of my Advanced Coach Intensive in July of 2017, we reengaged with the content and each other by starting off with Appreciative Inquiry (AI) introductions paired up with another classmate.
AI involves ‘searching for the best’ in people, organizations, and communities through the discovery of ‘what gives life’ to a system when it is at its most effective and most economically, ecologically, and socially capable (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2001).
During the exercise we each played coach and client, asking and answering questions like:
o What about this excites you?
o What are some achievements that describe you at your best?
o What do you most value about yourself, your relationships, your work?
o What one or two things do you want more of in your life/work?
o What are the most exciting possibilities for you?
o What accomplishments would make you feel as though you have come close to your goal?
I had a lot going on in my life and my work that had my attention divided more than usual, to the point where when I arrived at the conference, I wasn’t sure how, or if, I would make it through the week. A few days before, I was on the fence about whether or not I should even attempt to attend the Intensive at that point. I thought I was going to fail, at more than one thing.
The AI exercise not only me so I could focus on the coursework for the week (very important since my oral and written exams were just a few days away), but it completely changed my mindset from judger to learner. It opened me up to become curious and positive, helped me think of what’s possible, and it was an affirmation of my strengths and ability to be successful in my journey to become an executive coach. The questions my partner asked me changed my focus from all the ways I could fail to how I would attain my goal. My hopes had resurfaced and I was more motivated to succeed.
It can be hard to be aware of what we do well when we’re faced with a challenge or are excited by an opportunity. Through Appreciative Inquiry, we look for what works, be it in a society, organization, group, or an individual, and then amplify that to successfully move through change and the unknown. By staying focused on my strengths, by applying what I’ve done well in the past to my current challenge, I was able to complete the Advanced Coach Intensive and pass both my written and oral certification exams at the highest level currently granted by the program, which parallels the Professional Certified Coach Level for the ICF. I don’t know if I would have been able to perform so well had I not been able to shift my mindset.
In late October 2017 stumbled upon a Forbes article and it reignited my appreciation for AI. I can easily get caught up in the urgent and can forget about the important, so it’s helpful to be reminded of what has helped me move forward and achieve my goals. The author shows a great example of how to use AI as a leader in an organization and lists some very thought-provoking questions to start off each workday with. The author also quickly touches on how to embed AI into the evaluation process, in turn increasing employee engagement.
For me, this article was helpful in translating positive inquiry from a coaching context into a business and organizational context. How can we best support our team? When our colleagues ask us reflective questions, is it always best to answer them? It’s human nature that people are more likely to act when they come up with their own ideas. It’s the leader’s responsibility to inspire and empower their team, which then drives performance, and asking the right questions can, in turn, drive transformation, leverage diversity, and lets your team know that you have faith in their abilities leading them to be more self-sufficient and self-managing.
Through AI, we feel more connected with and committed to our goals, more confident about our success, and we are more likely to create the reality we want. This skill, or perhaps more accurately, this mindset of Appreciative Inquiry is transferable to so many aspects of our lives—from work to friendships to parenting. I now have fully integrated AI into my executive coaching practice.
Please share and comment below on your thoughts and experiences. I’d love to know what you find useful, inspiring, motivating…
