Top Resource Picks for Conference Leaders — March 2005: Appreciative Inquiry
by Julia Kuhn Wallace

Appreciative Inquiry: Description, Uses, and Resources for Conference Leaders

Have you ever wondered why your attempts at organizational change fail? Are you tired of trying to fix what's wrong in the conference? Are you just not sure how to involve people in an energetic dialogue on change that produces positive results?

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a successful approach to positive organizational change that encourages people to be fully involved in the process. Instead of bringing in a consultant to "identify a problem and fix it" — which usually results in a report to resize or reorganize, affecting people'’s jobs — AI helps people in the organization study, learn from, and build on what's working. Instead of deficit-based change, AI builds on the capacity of an organization to produce quick, positive change based on its assets and shared vision. Rather than talking about shifting paradigms, AI can help you embrace a new paradigm.

How? AI integrates human, technical, and organizational functions at the speed of imagination. It is essentially what gives life to a group when it functions at its best:

appreciate, verb — to value or recognize strengths and potentials
inquire, verb — to explore or discover . . . to be open to seeing new possibilities.

AI surfaces hopes, dreams, successes, values, and strengths that can be transformational when shared through focused dialogue instead of unchallenged assumptions.

The power of AI is described through a simple 4-D cycle:

Discovery — "Appreciate what is or has been"
Dream — "Imagine what might be"
Design — "Determine what should be"
Destiny — "Innovate or create what will be"

Appreciative Inquiry can be used to bring about:

1. Organizational change through strategic planning, leader development, morale enhancement, conference redesign, new facilitation and consulting skills
2. Community development through asset ministry mapping, economic development, participatory partnership planning, shared ministry (ecumenical or cooperative)
3. Small-group development through ministry team development, ministry collaboratives, discipleship groups
4. Shared ministry through formation process, ministry development, defining mission areas
5. Leadership transformation through spiritual direction, mentoring, coaching, excelling pastoral evaluations, conflict mediation

Look at these resources to learn more about Appreciative Inquiry:

	Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination by Jane Magruder Watkins and Bernard J. Mohr. (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA 2001.) Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination makes the case for using Appreciative Inquiry for change in an organization with practical lists and ideas. There is an excellent FAQ section.
	Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The First in a Series of AI Workbooks for Leaders of Change by David L. Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline M. Stavros. (Lakeshore Communications and Brett-Koehler Publishers, 2003.) This resource offers the essential elements of AI, including sample workshops, worksheets, sample questions and interview guides, overhead masters, summary reports, and case studies.
	The Appreciative Series. www.aileadership.com. Great series of short booklets that explain Appreciative Inquiry and develop the topic with practical ideas for each step in the 4-D process. Recommended for Conference leaders. Topics include: Appreciative Inquiry Appreciative Facilitation Appreciative Consulting Appreciative Mentoring Appreciative Project Management Appreciative Team Development
	Naming Elephants: How to Surface Undiscussables for Greater Organizational Success by Sue Annis Hammond and Andrea B. Mayfield. (Thin Book Publlishing Co., July 2004) Naming Elephants explains why organizations dance around the assumptions and challenges that can cause disasters or even put them out of business. Gives suggestions on how to involve people in your organization discussing the hidden assumptions regardless of their role.
	The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change by Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom. (Berrett-Koehler Publisher, San Francisco 2003.) Easy- to- understand book defining Appreciative Inquiry, Eight Principles, and tips for getting started.
	Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry by Sue Annis Hammond. (Thin Book Publishers, Plano TX. www.thinbook.com) br> Best short book on the topic of Appreciative Inquiry — excellent for beginners.

Practical Website: www.aileadership.com
This website contains worksheets, articles, cases, and resource lists.

If you are currently using Appreciative Inquiry in your work as a conference leader, e-mail Julia Kuhn Wallace at jwallace@gbod.org and share your experience!

Julia Kuhn Wallace is the Director of Small Church and Shared Ministries for the General Board of Discipleship.

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