What is Appreciative Inquiry? Appreciative Inquiry is the study and exploration of what gives life to human systems when they function at their best. This approach to personal change and organizational change is based on the assumption that questions and dialogue about strengths, successes, values, hopes, and dreams are themselves transformational. In short, Appreciative Inquiry suggests that human organizing and change, at its best, is a relationship process of inquiry, grounded in affirmation and appreciation. (Diana Whitney & Amanda Trosten-Bloom: The Power of Appreciative Inquiry, Berrett-Koehler 2003)

Participant reviews of the Spring 2008 offering of this course were very positive, and were instrumental in Bob's being awarded MentorCoach's 2009 Pillar Award for Contributions to Positive Psychology Coaching:

• I’m excited. I have enjoyed it immensely and have applied so much of my new knowledge in my coaching practice! Thank you!

• Bob knows the content, explains it well and demonstrates it proficiently.

• Bob was tremendously insightful and generous with his knowledge, time, energy and resources.. He is a wonderful teacher and person. I highly recommend this class. The bonus class/workshop/support group after the official class was invaluable! I enjoyed it immensely and have applied so much of my new knowledge in my coaching practice! Thank you!

• Great instructor- very inspiring, knowledgeable, present, approachable, encouraging, generous… The (optional) discussions after class were also terrific- lots of discussion around organizational and personal transformation.

• This was a great class, well run and very informative.

• Bob is the teacher you always wanted to have.

• The combination of modeling, written materials, and conversations in and after class have permanently affected the my model of the coaching experience. I’ve also put AI principles to work with colleagues, family, and friends, and am gratified by the way they can stop a negative spiral and actually get it spinning in a positive direction. Bob was a compassionate, articulate instructor who modeled what he was teaching. He set a tone of appreciative listening and sharing that made our class nights very special. (I am still in withdrawal.)

• What a privilege to have Bob guide us through AI principles and practice. Some highlights would definitely include modeling of AI in practice in a coaching session, and discussion of cases.

• Bob was fabulous…!

The Appreciative Inquiry Coaching Master Class:
Conversations that Matter:
About Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds; and the pessimist fears
this is true. - James Branch Cabell

Appreciative Inquiry (or AI, as it has come to be known) was first conceptualized at Case Western Reserve University in 1980 by doctoral student David Cooperrider and his thesis advisor, Suresh Srivastva.  Jane Watkins and Bernard Mohr provide a beautifully detailed history of the beginnings of AI in their book, Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination. They describe the detailed events of how AI began as a theory-building process and eventually evolved into the change philosophy it has become today.

Fundamentally, "AI is about the co-evolutionary search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them."  It is a positive, strength-based approach to change. It includes co-creating inspiring images of what we want, and then building on positive aspects to make them happen. It means becoming more aware of our internal and external dialogues and intentionally shifting them to focus on what we want more of. It unleashes the positive potential within people and situations through attention and focus on the positive core. It suggests we build on our strengths, successes, and best practices to achieve our greatest hopes and dreams. AI is all this and more.

AI is a "living," "organic" concept that continuously emerges and grows with new learning and information. Appreciative Living offers new thinking from various disciplines that is consistent with the principles of AI and adds to the evolving repertoire of beliefs.

[Note:  The above description of Appreciative Inquiry is from Jacqueline S. Kelm's highly regarded book Appreciative Living, which offers principles and practices for applying Appreciative Inquiry in everyday life. This course will draw on the very reader-friendly Appreciative Living as a lens.

For additional information on Appreciative Inquiry visit the Case Western Reserve University AI website at http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/ or Jackie Kelm's website at www.AppreciativeLiving.com.]

The Appreciative Inquiry Coaching Master Class:
Conversations that Matter:
Learning Objectives

In this hands-on, minds-on class you will:

• Learn how to use Appreciative Inquiry in coaching for
  • identifying a positive change agenda,
  • reframing deficit-based thinking patterns into appreciative thinking patterns,
  • moving from reaction to self-direction,
  • locating unique strengths and associating them with strong positive emotions,
  • creating valued, vivid, vital, and vibrant images of desired futures,
  • developing strategies and identifying resources for moving forward into those futures
  • fulfilling a positive change agenda by enacting--in the present--images and visions of a desired future.
• Develop skills needed to construct effective Appreciative Inquiry questions.
• Learn the Principles of AI and how to put them to work for you and your clients.
• Experiment with several models for engaging you and your clients in the AI process.
• Learn about the research on which AI is based.
• Access a vast array of AI resources to support you in your work.

The Appreciative Inquiry Coaching Master Class:
Conversations that Matter:
Learning Strategies

• Read and discuss case studies and other narratives about real-world uses of Appreciative Inquiry.
• Review Power-Point presentations on the various AI topics covered in the course
• Explore and discuss the use of AI in your own life and in your conversations with your clients.
• Post your reflections to an AI online journal and read and comment on the reflections of others.
• Participate in optional bonus classes and interviews with AI practitioners as they discuss their experiences with AI and share their perspectives on the use of AI  in coaching.
• Participate in an optional AI  Practitioners' support (small group, first come first served) teleconference that begins after the second class meeting. Practice and receive feedback on new skills and extend your understanding of AI .

The Appreciative Inquiry Coaching Master Class:
Conversations that Matter:
Instructor: Bob Siegfried, Ph.D.

Dr. Siegfried first encountered Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in the mid 1990's, while teaching, coaching, and consulting in the areas of technology innovation, planning, and human organization science. Seeing people flounder in the deficit-based, command-and-control approaches to change so prevalent in the lives and working environments of his clients, Bob scouted out new approaches to change that would help his clients flourish. When he came across new and emerging change paradigms, he put them to the test in real world environments. Those he found to have the greatest potential he incorporated into his practice, including Appreciative Inquiry, Narrative Practices, and subsequently Positive Psychology and Solution-based practices.

Bob holds it that the ultimate test of any of these strength-based approaches to change is in the impact we've experienced from incorporating them into our own lives. He also holds it that the more engaged we are in embodying positive change in our own lives, the better able we are to support others in embodying positive change in their lives.

Throughout his professional career, Bob’s colleagues, students, workshop participants, and clients alike have consistently commented on his warmth, his respect for them and their ideas, his playfulness, and his ability to communicate clearly. (MentorCoach founder Ben Dean recently referred to Bob as someone who “can make the ineffable effable.”)

In addition to his work teaching, counseling, and coaching individual clients, Bob has consulted to, designed programs for, facilitated training for, or worked with clients from: • World Bank • General Motors • National Institutes of Health • US Air Force • Villanova University • Southern Regional Education Board • Air Products • School District of Philadelphia • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania • AICPA • Executive Technology Associates • Harrisburg Area Community College • Radnor School District • Rosemont College • ASPA • Corporation for Public and Private Ventures • Riggs Bank • Connecticut General • Smith-Kline • General Electric • Carnegie Mellon University • Medical College of Pennsylvania  • Touche Ross • Verizon • and a number of other schools and organizations.

Bob, whose doctorate is from the University of Pittsburgh, has worked professionally as psychologist, consultant, educator, counselor-educator, manager, and personal and professional coach.  He recently reframed his own professional life, moving from full-time professor/part-time practitioner to full-time practitioner/part-time professor. He attempts to remain informed about the action going on at the intersection of socio-cognitive-neuroscience and strength-based change practices.

Interested in pretty much everything, Bob is particularly interested in his family, making music with friends, fly-fishing, exploring things natural, and tinkering about the Harmonyville, PA country home he shares with his wife Lisa, two cats, and the occasional country critter brave enough to risk sneaking into the house.

Appreciative Inquiry Coaching in Action:
Interview and Demonstration

Bob Siegfried
is Interviewed by and coaches Ann Marie Mckelvey
(Recorded live, February 6, 2008.)

Use the control bars below (A) to listen as Bob and Ann Marie discuss Appreciative Inquiry and (B) to listen as Bob uses an Appreciative Inquiry lens as he coaches Ann Marie.
 

Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2. to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.

In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.

from A Positive Revolution in Change: Appreciative Inquiry by David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney.

Appreciative Inquiry is the study and exploration of what gives life to human systems when they function at their best. This approach to personal change and organizational change is based on the assumption that questions and dialogue about strengths, successes, values, hopes, and dreams are themselves transformational. In short, Appreciative Inquiry suggests that human organizing and change, at its best, is a relationship process of inquiry, grounded in affirmation and appreciation.

Diana Whitney & Amanda Trosten-Bloom: The Power of Appreciative Inquiry, Berrett-Koehler 2003