Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry

WHAT IS APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a collaborative, strengths-based approach that studies “what’s working” as a springboard for change. AI is utilized in thousands of organizations and communities in hundreds of countries to develop leaders, strengthen teams, facilitate change, and design strategy. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

In this Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry self-paced program, you will explore the foundational theories, principles, and 5-D process of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) through experiential exercises designed to invite discovery, reflection, and implementation. The objective of this course is to encourage you and others to use the appreciative inquiry methodology to cultivate stronger relationships, promote meaningful engagement, and inspire positive change.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

As a fully engaged participant in the Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry workshop, you will leave this workshop better able to:

  • Recognize the power of storytelling and its ability to transform our paradigm and reality.
  • Understand the difference between the AI Process (doing) and Principles of AI (being).
  • Provide real-life examples that illustrate the AI principles’ impact on your way of being, thinking, and doing.
  • Intentionally seek new ways of knowing, understanding, and interacting with others.
  • Begin a personal paradigm shift from “what’s wrong” to “what’s right”.
  • Broaden your capacity to draw on positive emotions, images, and experiences to create opportunities for joy, growth, and fulfillment.

DESIGNED FOR

Anyone who wants to make positive and lasting change within themselves, their organizations, and communities.

COURSE CONTENT

This foundational Appreciative Inquiry (AI) introductory course consists of 27 lessons within five (5) modules. The experiential nature of this course is designed to invite discovery, reflection, and immediate implementation of Appreciative Inquiry.

In this image, the words "Appreciative Inquiry" are separated and defined individually. Appreciate is defined as, "to increase in value; to recognize the best in people or the world around us." The word Inquire is defined as, "to explore and discover; to ask questions."

MODULE 1: FOUNDATIONS OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

We begin by introducing Appreciative Inquiry as a transformational change model that invites meaningful dialogue around our strengths and successes. Next you will explore the power of storytelling, two approaches to human learning and change, and see how the practice and application of AI has evolved over time.

Appreciative Inquiry is grounded in research. One field of research is Positive Psychology. This image has the acronym P.E.R.M.A. - a positive psychology exercise to help shift our mindset. PERMA stands for Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments.

MODULE 2: SUPPORTING RESEARCH & THEORIES OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

In this module, we present scientific research, theories, and fields of study that support strength-based approaches to change, such as Appreciative Inquiry. Understanding the working theories and research that support Appreciative Inquiry and its impact on our beliefs, learning, and behavior help illustrate why Appreciative Inquiry is a powerful and energizing tool for creating and sustaining change.

A big, colorful flower with ten pedals lies in the center for this image. The ten pedals represent the ten principles of appreciative inquiry. Each pedal has a principle written on it. The ten appreciative inquiry principles are: constructionist principle, simultaneity principle, anticipatory principle, poetic principle, positive principle, wholeness principle, enactment principle, narrative principle, free choice principle, and awareness principle.

MODULE 3: PRINCIPLES OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

What are the principles of Appreciative Inquiry and what purpose do they serve? In this module, you will learn about the original and emergent principles of Appreciative Inquiry through experiential activities and reflective questions that demonstrate how the principles influence your way of being, thinking, and doing in the world.

The 5-D process of Appreciative Inquiry is used when facilitating AI sessions and consists of the following 5 phases: Define, Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny.

MODULE 4: APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY 5-D PROCESS

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a way of being and seeing; it is both a worldview and process for inviting and facilitating positive change. In this module, you will learn about the 5-D’s of Appreciative Inquiry – Define, Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny – by experiencing the process first hand as they apply to designing and completing a personal appreciative visioning plan.

The Nature of our Conversations fall into one of four categories: Critical Conversations, Destructive Conversations, Affirmative Conversations, and Conversations Worth Having. This image is of a circle divided into four equal quadrants with the four conversation categories listed.

MODULE 5: APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY IN ACTION

Appreciative Inquiry encourages individuals to adapt and alter the process to create a custom change experience appropriate to the client’s needs, outcomes, timelines, and budgets. In this module, we will present a variety of subjects to demonstrate Appreciative Inquiry’s scalability and versatility in its application.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Certificates of Completion are available to all participants. To obtain a letter, participants must complete the training and submit course feedback. Certificates of Completion include the participant’s name, the name of the course completed, and the number of training hours offered by the course. The Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry online course offers 10 training hours.

DELIVERY FORMAT

The Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry online program is an asynchronous, self-paced course. An asynchronous online course is a fully online course with no required virtual or face-to-face (live) sessions. This offers participants the flexibility to access instructional materials and resources, complete activities, and practice techniques and skills essential to the learning goals for this course at time, place, and location that works best for them.

To enhance the learning experience, this course has been designed to accommodate various learning styles by incorporating a mix of text, graphics, videos, and downloadable activities. All course materials and activities are located online and can be found on LearnDash, the Center for Appreciative Inquiry’s learning management system.

LEARNDASH ORIENTATION

To help orient you to our online platform, we have created a YouTube playlist containing a series of short videos designed to help you navigate the online platform and demonstrate its features to help maximize your learning experience.

COURSE ACCESS

Access to the Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry course will expire one (1) year after the date of registration. Within that time frame, participants are encouraged to log into LearnDash to download and save all materials, activities, and resources within the Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry course.

QUESTIONS?

Do you have questions about this training? Please email your questions to Kelly Stewart at Kelly@CenterForAppreciativeInquiry.net.

WANT TO TRAIN YOUR TEAM?

The Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry on-demand is available to teams and organizations of all sizes. Special group pricing is available. Please complete the CONTACT US form for more information.

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