APPRECIATIVE INQUIRIES
for October, 2004

CPC Certificate Program: Appreciative Inquiry and the Practice of Positive Change

16 consultants and leaders from across the US and Switzerland are now participating in the CPC Certificate program! To join this illustrious network of positive change practitioners, download the Application Form and return it by mail, e-mail or fax. Upon receipt of your registration, we will immediately add you to our Certificate Program e-mail list.

For more information, contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

"I'm thrilled with where the CPC Certificate Program has taken me. It's left me feeling really solid and grounded in AI: both competent and confident. Several other practitioners recently commented about how experienced I seemed to be. What a nice affirmation - both of me and the program!"

Nancy Ogilvie
Core Essence Consulting

"Dear CPC:" a source for ongoing capacity-building, questions and answers

Dear CPC,

Can AI work in an organization that has been in the red for three years, in an industry that has changed dramatically -- and to which people have not yet adapted -- that has done major, painful cost cutting AND has a new strategic direction with an energized leader?

Sincerely yours,

Carol Cirulli
Central Pennsylvania

Dear Carol:

We believe that it is never too late to use AI. However, we also believe that AI for its own sake is often not the way to go. Instead, AI needs to be the engine that drives the business of the business.

For example, in the organization that you’ve just described, AI might be used to engage employees and external stakeholders in fleshing out -- or implementing -- this energized leader’s new strategic direction.  AI might also be used to transport financial best practices across the organization -- or into the organization, from other high-performing organizations that people might benchmark. (Visit the "virtual conference" Web site from the recent AI conference in Miami, FL to hear a presentation on this kind of project with the City and County of Denver:  http://ai.bigmindcatalyst.com/cgi/bmc.pl?node=5859&frag=resp4#resp4).

Finally, AI might be used to build a culture of participation and innovation, through which “problems” such as the ones you’ve described can be more rapidly and creatively addressed by those who have the answers. What we know from experience is that AI will inspire, engage, and unleash possibilities, and pave the way for necessary course corrections to emerge from the ground up.

 Amanda Trosten-Bloom
for the CPC Consulting Team

Do YOU have a question for CPC? If so, contact us at office@positivechange.org. We will answer it in a future Appreciative Inquiries.

Return to Top

Upcoming Educational Opportunities

Appreciative Inquiry in Healthcare, Bryn Mawr, PA, October 19 - 20, 2004. Health care professionals, administrators, nurses and clinical leaders! Consultants specializing in health care! Come and be part of a "positive revolution in change" in health care, through this newly offered CPC training program. Susan Wood and Jackie Stavros invite you to discover how Appreciative Inquiry is bringing out the best in people and their health care organizations, by designing the best work environments. Our focus is on positive change in recruitment and retention, quality of care, performance and patient satisfaction. There will be hands-on education in strategic planning using the SOAR model (strengths, opportunities, aspirations, results), and a briefing on research and practice including positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship. Find ways to enhance or accelerate existing or new initiatives using AI. CEU Credits available. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

AI in Action, Boulder, CO, October 25 -27, 2004. Want to build on your experience as a leader of positive change? Go deeper, faster and farther with Appreciative Inquiry? In this intermediate workshop, Amanda Trosten-Bloom and Mike Mantel will help you identify and build upon your strengths as an AI practitioner. Explore a variety of approaches for applying AI at different levels in an organization, community and across our world. Revisit and deepen your practice of AI using your own projects and the projects of other participants as case examples. Hear about best practices and new horizons, as well as variations of the AI 4-D model and AI principles in theory and practice. Discover new ideas, approaches and frameworks for building your capacity and impact as an AI change agent. Previous attendance at a Foundations-level Appreciative Inquiry workshop, as well as experience applying the AI approach to at least one project, is required. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about AI in Action:

AI in Action has built on what I learned in the Foundations course. It gave me case studies and alternative methods of design, so now I am ready to "fly with AI."

Diana Sadighi
Director, Human Resources
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions

AI in Action had a powerful impact on me. It expanded my vision, gave me a deeper understanding of the power of AI, and taught me new strategies for using it in the future.

Maggie Carter
Consultant
InQuiry

The Appreciative Inquiry Summit, Chicago, IL, November 1 - 4, 2004. Jim Ludema and Diana Whitney, lead authors of The Appreciative Inquiry Summit: A Practitioners Guide for Leading Large-Group Change, are still accepting participants in this workshop for consultants and leaders who wish to learn the principles and practice of applying AI to large group meetings (50-2000 people) and whole system transformation.

This practical and inspiring workshop includes a thorough introduction the AI Summit methodology; a series of case stories and videos based on Jim and Diana’s work on how to design and facilitate large group AI Summits in corporate, non-profit, and international settings;, and rich discussion of applications of the AI Summit to strategic planning, culture change, exceptional customer service, vision and values clarification, global organizing, and reinventing businesses, communities and complex social systems such as health care. An important feature of this workshop is its practical application segment. Over the course of the workshop, Jim and Diana will work with you to design an AI Summit process for a specific project or idea of interest to you. Prior attendance at the Appreciative Inquiry workshop, "The Foundations of Appreciative Inquiry," is required. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about The AI Summit:

This event provided a forum to discuss and develop detailed plans for our upcoming summits on Sales and Service. It was interesting to hear from other groups who were using the tool in a variety of applications. The facilitators ensured that all participants made progress and received input and suggestions from the group.

Rita Sly
Project Manager
First Caribbean International Bank

With participation in The AI Summit Workshop, I now see how this wonderful, reaffirming methodology can be applied to Large Scale Change efforts. It's all-inclusive of not only the people, but also all aspects of where they're coming from, how they view the topic, and what they dream possible for the future of the topic. Staying focused on the possibilities is not only fun & rewarding, it's also engaging and creative in a way that creates the space for unanticipated outcomes. And, Jim and Diana are masters at it, which made it even more of a pleasurable experience.

Jean Tully
Consultant
Tully Consulting

Being Appreciative Inquiry: A Spiritual Retreat for Change Agents, Taos NM, November 9 - 12, 2004. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES UNTIL October 9. The beginning of the year is a great time for personal reflection, reassessment of values, and the reinvention of one's self in service to a better world. If you are hearing a new call, being drawn to live and work in greater harmony with spirit, or just want time to honor the transitions of your life, Being AI: A Spiritual Retreat for Change Agents may be for you. With Diana Whitney as your guide you will have four days in community with others on the journey of spiritual development. You will have an opportunity to engage in self-discovery, envision your future and explore ways of being your best in the service of bringing out the best in others. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about Being AI:

Being AI was life altering for me: a precious five-day period of focusing and interacting on a spiritual level of consciousness. Diana shared wisdom that has emerged out of her life of conscious learning, brought together with the pure intention of creating transformational positive change. It’s now my responsibility to put it all to use and remember what’s truly possible, through the expanded perspectives that I now live in.

Dan Petersen
Director
Edges Learning Community

The Foundations of Appreciative Inquiry, Taos NM, November 29 - December 3, 2004. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES UNTIL October 29. Whether you’re a consultant or leader of change, Foundations of AI will guide you through an exploration of the theories, principles and practices of Appreciative Inquiry. This workshop provides hands-on experience of Appreciative Inquiry, preparing you to guide clients and groups in creating interview protocols, conducting interviews, working with appreciative data and stories, and crafting provocative propositions and organization design principles. Understand the difference between Appreciative Inquiry and deficit-based approaches to change, and experience the power of positive change methodologies. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about Foundations in Appreciative Inquiry:

The Foundations of AI workshop expanded my consulting "toolkit", opened new avenues for productive client dialogue, and increased my network of AI colleagues - a fabulous development opportunity!

Theresa Garcia
CEO/President
Trust, Leadership & Growth, LLC

The Foundations of AI broadened my horizons personally and professionally by teaching me a methodology to use success stories as the foundation for exploring future visions. It challenged me to be bold enough to ask the necessary questions to discover a new world without limitations.

Kendra Sardelis
Science Applications International Corporation
BPM Specialist

Appreciative Leadership Development Program, Taos, NM, December 7 - 10, 2004. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT APPLIES UNTIL November 7. At last – an AI workshop for executives and managers! Facilitated by Diana Whitney and Jim Ludema this is a strength based leadership development program. It is a must for leaders who wish to identify and enhance their strengths and appreciative capacities for collaboration, affirmation, and inspiration. This is a perfect program for leaders of large scale change. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

What participants are saying about Appreciative Leadership Development Program:

This was a life altering experience. I not only got in touch with my strengths as a leader but really got in touch with who I've been "being" as a leader and what is effective about it as opposed to what I've been "doing" as a leader. I loved how we took the different data points and used them to take a look at ourselves and what we're up to as leaders. I am completely re-inspired as a leader and feel very supported and connected with my colleagues. Thanks.

Tish Wilson
Vice President
Community Development Institute

***NEW OFFERING***

AI Foundations in Practice, Denver, CO, November 4-6 and December 15. A new approach to the Foundations training! Amanda Trosten-Bloom facilitates this practicum, which takes the content of the 5-day Taos Institute / CPC Foundations class and transmits it over an extended period of time -- enabling participants to work through projects from their own organizations or systems. Learn the basic theory and practice of Appreciative Inquiry, from its roots in Social Construction and Image Theory to new theory in improvisational organizing. Practice selecting affirmative topics, crafting questions, making meaning of stories, and writing provocative propositions. Hear stories of a variety of forms of AI initiative, in a variety of industries and organizations around the globe. Graduates are eligible to participate in advanced CPC training programs, and receive Foundations credit towards the CPC certificate program. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: office@positivechange.org.

Return to Top

Books and Publications

Check out the full listing of leading books on Appreciative Inquiry and positive change by CPC consultants:

• The Power of Appreciative Inquiry (Whitney & Trosten-Bloom)
• The Appreciative Inquiry Summit (Ludema, Whitney, Mohr, & Griffin)
• The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (Cooperrider, Whitney, & Stavros)
• Encyclopedia of Positive Questions - Volume One (Whitney, Cooperrider, Kaplin, & Trosten-Bloom)
• Appreciative Inquiry: Collaborating for Change (booklet: Cooperrider & Whitney)
• Positive Approaches to Peacebuilding (Sampson, Abu-Nimer, Liebler, & Whitney)
• Appreciative Inquiry: An Emerging Direction for OD (Cooperrider, Sorensen, Yaeger, & Whitney)

Also, look for The United Religions Initiative: Birth of a Global Community: Appreciative Inquiry in Action by Sally Mahe. This new book, published by Lakeshore Communications, is written by one of CPC’s most cherished clients.

Finally, follow this link to the AI Practitioner: the only newsletter on the practice of Appreciative Inquiry. Published quarterly by Anne Radford in London, the AIP features articles on such diverse topics as AI and strategic planning, AI in Health Care, and AI in the K-12 school system. The $28 subscription fee is modest, and well worth it.

Return to Top

About CPC

Corporation for Positive Change (CPC) is dedicated to the design and development of Appreciative organizations - those capable of sustaining innovation, financial well-being and market leadership by inspiring the best in human beings. CPC provides consultation and training based on the principles and practices of Appreciative Inquiry. For more information about CPC, or to contact any of our principal consultants, please visit our Web site at www.positivechange.org.

To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list, please send a blank message to: leave-appreciativeinquiries@list.netatlantic.com Thank you.

Return to Top

Newsletter Design By Newsletter Promote