Appreciative Inquiry
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is one of today's most recognized and popular approaches to systems change. It has been used successfully in organizational, community, company, and church development worldwide to cultivate hope, build capacity, unleash collective appreciation and imagination, and bring about positive change. Change is not what it used to be, and the status quo is no longer the best way for us in moving forward. We live in a world today of rapid increase in knowledge, major shifts in human experience, and ultimately relentless change. Church leaders of today must embrace a shift in their own paradigm in order to more effectively implement organizational systems that can better sustain positive change in their churches and communities. Appreciative Inquiry is about recognizing the dynamics of our relationships, the significance of our actions, and living with appreciative intent. Rather than casting vision that we expect all to jump on board with, we can learn to co-create vision and meaning in our churches and communities as leaders learn to facilitate rather than steer. Human beings tend to move in the direction of what we ask about. When we begin to magnify the positive, we can discover what is in the heart of people for the good of the church. The people have an increased sense of ownership and community, and we begin to build together on our strengths and assets rather than looking to fix our problems.
Many problem solving methods operate with the basic assumption that people and organizations are broken and need to be fixed. This method looks to identify problems, analyze the root cause of those problems, discover possible solutions and create a plan of action. This "deficit based analysis" may be powerful to diagnose, but tends to undermine the overall attitude and motivation of the organization as it can create a sense of threat, separation, defensiveness, and unhealthy competition which causes deference to experts at higher levels to deal with the issues. In short, people are much more likely to get involved with what they appreciate and they perceive to be going well, than what they don't appreciate, and perceive to be a problem.
On the contrary, Appreciative Inquiry sees organizations as mysteries to be embraced. The underlying assumption of AI is that every organization or church is full of good people, assets, capabilities, resources, and strengths that can be located, affirmed, leveraged, and encouraged. There are a variety of AI models, but all of them are based on: (1) Choosing to focus on positives for inquiry rather than negatives. (2) From there AI looks to inquire into stories that are life-giving for the participants that reveal what they appreciate and value. (3) Out of these stories we can locate themes and images that appear in these stories that we might further inquire into. (4) We can co-create images as we ask questions that help participants to think creatively and imaginatively that will ultimately lead us into our preferred future. (5) We can then discuss and identify innovative ways to create that future.
Constructive dialogue will help us to share constructive experience, imagine new possibilities, and develop partnerships that will bring this future into being. This process takes place with a classic AI 4-D cycle that includes:
(1) discovery; (2) dream; (3) design; (4) destiny.
On the contrary, Appreciative Inquiry sees organizations as mysteries to be embraced. The underlying assumption of AI is that every organization or church is full of good people, assets, capabilities, resources, and strengths that can be located, affirmed, leveraged, and encouraged. There are a variety of AI models, but all of them are based on: (1) Choosing to focus on positives for inquiry rather than negatives. (2) From there AI looks to inquire into stories that are life-giving for the participants that reveal what they appreciate and value. (3) Out of these stories we can locate themes and images that appear in these stories that we might further inquire into. (4) We can co-create images as we ask questions that help participants to think creatively and imaginatively that will ultimately lead us into our preferred future. (5) We can then discuss and identify innovative ways to create that future.
Constructive dialogue will help us to share constructive experience, imagine new possibilities, and develop partnerships that will bring this future into being. This process takes place with a classic AI 4-D cycle that includes:
(1) discovery; (2) dream; (3) design; (4) destiny.
During the Discovery portion of the process the core task is to appreciate the best of what is happening in the organization. We intentionally let go of analysis of deficits in order to focus on even the smallest examples of high performance, success, or satisfaction. What in God’s name is going on in your church? The interview process begins with the gathering of life-giving experience within congregation. Here, we are valuing the best of what Is.
Some examples of questions here might be:
1. If this ministry team was a sports team, what sport would it be? Why?
2. What is a top priority for you as far as this church/ministry is concerned?
3. What do value most in your workplace or ministry environment?
4. What do you love most about your job/ministry?
In the Dream phase, participants should be informed that this phase involves challenging the status quo by envisioning a preferred future for the organization or ministry. You might say, "imagine a time in the future when people look to this organization/ministry as an exceptional example of how a ministry can help to benefit and transform people and the church for the better." What is God and the community calling us to be? What would our church look like in 5 years time? Here we look to develop common images of the future, and envision the ideal.
From that position, here are some examples of questions:
1. In this exciting future, what does this ministry look like?
2. What kind of relationships are being built?
3. What will people notice are some of your core values looking from the outside?
4. What will people say about their experience with your ministry/organization?
5. Are there systems or structures that will help us get there?
6.What are you most proud of accomplishing so far?
The Design phase includes the creation of the social architecture of the organization as we discuss future possibilities that articulate the organization’s dreams in ongoing activities. We begin to align values, structures and mission with the ideal, and develop achievable plans and steps to make the vision a reality. Here, we are dialoguing about what should be.
Here are some sample questions:
1. What areas, if given more attention, could have the most impact for overall organization/church and community improvement?
2. As you reflect on successful attitudes, ethics, and actions observed to bring improvement, which stand out as being exceptionally promising for creating future culture?
3. What are the most promising areas in which to expand the collaboration and partnership between the church/ministry and our community? (i.e. are there people, groups, or organizations to partner with, or focus on?)
4. What resources need to be acquired in order for us to fulfill our dreams?
5. Are there communication structures that need to be put in place?
6. How do we add value to each other as we move forward?
The Destiny phase allows us to share our positive ideas and images in a way that everyone is included in co-creating the future. This phase is ongoing with continuing dialogue, learning, and adjustments. We are doing Christ's work in the world. We are co-creating a sustainable, preferred future. Here we look to innovate concerning what will be.
Examples of questions for this phase:
1. What next steps or recommendations do you have to move forward toward the dream of this organization/ministry?
2. How do we help each other become the individuals we want to lead this organization/ministry?
3. If success was completely guaranteed, what bold steps might we choose going forward?
4. How can we support each other in taking the next steps? What unique contribution can we each make?
5. What challenges might come our way and how might we meet them?
6. What conversation, if begun today, could ripple out in a way that created new possibilities for the future?
7. What seed might we plant together today that could make the most difference for the future of our church/ministry?
Top 5 Appreciative Inquiry Helpful Sites
1. www.clergyleadership.com
This site offers a variety of resources for Appreciative Inquiry including AI philosophy, theology, tips, resources, and generic interview guides for multiple protocols and needs. Some example guides for Appreciative Inquiry on this site are:
- Appreciative Inquiry generic interview guide for churches.
This guide has the four generic questions used in an initial discovery process for developing an organizational strategic plan or sense of mission for a church. If a congregational has a poorly defined sense of mission or is seeking a major organizational redevelopment this guide is a useful beginning place. Depending on the information discovered a more specific interview guide may be developed to inquire specifically into areas that the generic uncover. - Appreciative Inquiry guide based on the great commandment.
This guide was developed to help a congregation discover and grow the ways they love God, neighbor, and themselves. The interview is presented as a worksheet that provides places for people to record their answers and those of their group and questions to facilitate a synthesis of the discovery. - Appreciative Inquiry generic interview guide for organizations.
This is a similar four generic questions designed for use in a secular organization rather than a church. - Guide to Training Interviewers.
Developed by John Robinson this guide provides an outline for training church members in the art of appreciative interviewing.
2. www.appreciativeinquiry.case.edu
The "AI Commons" is a worldwide portal that allows access to various academic resources and academic tools in the field of Appreciative Inquiry. Some of the tools and links provided consist of:
- Commentary by David Cooperrider
- Multi-lingual Resources
- Sample Cases & Project Packs
- AI Applications
- Books
- Classic Articles
3. www.centerforappreciativeinquiry.net
This website was developed to allow clients to find certified Appreciative Inquiry professionals worldwide, provide expert support and peer collaboration for independent consultants, and build a growing network of individuals who want to increase their impact for making a positive difference in organizations. Some of what this website offers:
- CERTIFICATION - if you wish to become a certified facilitator or coach in appreciative inquiry.
- COACHING - you can work with a coach to collaborate in building a design for the future, develop strategies, and action steps.
- WORKSHOPS - this site has training and consulting services available for organizations, groups, or individuals.
- WORDS CREATE WORLDS® - monthly newsletters containing news, articles, resources, and upcoming events.
- SUCCESS STORIES - read stories from those who have participated in Appreciative Inquiry Trainings.
4. www.brynathynchurch.org/about/strategic-initiatives/ai/
I chose to include this website in my 'Top 5' list simply because Bryn Athyn church has provided a good outline here of how Appreciative Inquiry took place in their church. You can click this link to see how it happened from the process, to aspirations statements made for the future, to interviewer info and project teams. This is a very helpful resource for those who want to practically see how AI might play out in your church as well.
5. http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/articles/life-giving-change-using-appreciative-inquiry-for-youth-ministry
This is a link to an article that I found very interesting called, "Life Giving Change: Using Appreciative Inquiry for Youth Ministry." It is a brief article, but it highlights the point that because the adults had listened to the teenagers, there was a new level of appreciation and partnership. And the stories that the youth heard from adults helped them gain new understanding.