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Communication Skills Training for High Performance

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In a nutshell, this collaborative way of training enables employees to find resources within themselves to bring to the situation. Furthermore, when they feel supported by others, including coworkers and bosses, it leads to creating a nurturing and inviting environment where they feel safe at work resulting in greater quantity and quality of service. Teamwork is enhanced, communication is improved, as people truly listen to one another and respect each other. They experience moments of care from others.

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A World Inquiry: The Impacts of Appreciative Inquiry across the World, with Ada Jo Mann – PS059

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A pioneer of Appreciative inquiry (AI) shares her own experience and creates a project to conduct a world inquiry on the lasting impacts of AI around the world: what does AI means to others what lasting impacts have been created?

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Shifting Power – Exciting Possibilities through Appreciative Inquiry With Tim Slack – PS55

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In this conversation, we offer that Appreciative Inquiry is undergoing a sea change – a transformation – of its own. Appreciative Inquiry practitioners across the world continue to contribute to the growing number of practical and life-changing resources, expanding upon the traditional body of work that is Appreciative Inquiry and taking it to new contexts across the globe. We share stories and experiences that range from kids in schools, residents in hostels, surgeons and nurses in hospitals, curators in museums, students in universities, LGTBQ communities, clergy and members of churches and, potentially, women returning from combat.

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20 Positive Outcomes from a Strength-based Approach to Change

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Every system – human or otherwise – has strengths – things that work already providing the opportunity to address change from a strength-based approach.

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Appreciative Inquiry – Overview of Method, Principles and Applications

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Appreciative Inquiry is a perspective on the world that invites us to see ourselves and the world through an appreciative or valuing eye. We are made aware that how we use language, how we ask questions, and what stories we tell shape our own and collective destinies.

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Shifting from linear to holistic design

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Organizational cultures vary, just as human personalities vary. Many are embracing methods and tools that bring all voices to the table. Participatory, inclusive decision-making practices and use of collaborative tools and technologies, along with social media platforms to level the playing field are becoming more common, facilitating our capacity to be more experimental, productive, playful, and engaged.

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Highlights from an Appreciative Inquiry Summit

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The summit exceeded expectations. The design and planning teams, and the participants all shared a sense that we had done the best we could do and it felt amazing. This feedback sums it up: “We’ve hit the reset button and it’s hard to go back.”

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Appreciative Inquiry – Unintended Consequence of App Development

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It's been 1.5 years now since Juergen Berkessel and I co-founded Polymash, a creative agency with a focus on strategy development, app design and marketing for the mobile world.  Juergen is an artist and a technologist.  He comes from a professional photography background, graphic design and a long stint in IT and product development.  My […]

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“The Optimism of Uncertainty”

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I'm reminded increasingly these days of this quote by Howard Zinn, (1922 – 2010) historian, activist, professor.  It comes from his article, “The Optimism of Uncertainty”. If you do a search on this article, you'll find it referenced in a number of places, for example:  The Nation on September 2, 2004. “We don't have to […]

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What Excites You?

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“What are you excited about?” I love the question.  In my practice of Appreciative Inquiry, we say  it's the question that starts the change process.  A powerfully affirmative question inspires us to share stories about the successes and strengths I already know about and can celebrate.  Moreover, the question leads me to focus on what […]

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