Appreciative Coaching is a revelatory and generative conversation that expands people’s capacity to perform by channeling their strengths and abilities for the greatest impact. Grounded in Appreciative Inquiry, this approach to coaching takes clients from good to great because it fosters personal transformation through innate talent and inherent strength and inspires action – increasing the likelihood of producing longer lasting results quickly.
The Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT©) looks at discovering and co-constructing the client’s positive core – what it is that connects them to life and the possibility to thrive. Through the affirmative framework of Appreciative Inquiry, discover how to deepen and enhance both your personal sense of yourself as well as your skills for generative one-on-one conversations in a small group learning environment.
This course is an approved ICF (International Coaching Federation) Continuing Coach Education (CCE) program. Participants who complete this program can apply 32 hours toward renewal requirements or as part of an application for an ICF credential.
This advanced-level certification course provides participants the opportunity to apply to Core Competencies of ICF through the lens of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and is designed for individuals who understand and embody a strengths-based AI paradigm. For the best learning experience and meaningful engagement, we welcome up to sixteen (16) participants.
The Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT©) is ideal for:
To enroll in this advanced-level course, participants must meet one of the following three prerequisites:
The Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT©) consists of 33 hours of synchronous (live sessions hosted through Zoom) and asynchronous (assigned reading and activities outside of class time) learning over the course of 12 weeks. During the training, participants will meet weekly for two hours to engage in a training session designed to guide you through the full range and depth of what it means to be an Appreciative Inquiry Coach.
Participants must attend all sessions and complete the course in its entirety, including all online coursework, to be eligible for AI Coach Certification.
SESSION 1 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 10, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 2 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 3 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 4 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 5 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time |
SESSION 6 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 7 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 8 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 9 WEDNESDAY MARCH 6, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time | SESSION 10 WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 2024 8am-10am Pacific Time 11am-1pm Eastern Time |
Please note that the AICT synchronous training sessions are highly experiential and will not be recorded. The AICT Trainers will be utilizing breakout rooms to develop the community and trust among the participants, paired coaching practice, and small group discussions and reflections.
To ensure that all participants are off to a strong start, your vAICT trainers will host a live orientation session via Zoom on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 from 9am-10am Pacific Time / 12pm-1pm Eastern Time. This one-hour (1 hour) session allows you to connect with your trainers, engage with participants, become familiar with LearnDash (our online learning platform), and ask questions about reading and activities prior to your first AICT session in Zoom on January 10, 2024.
During the AICT, we will explore and engage in the relational nature of coaching, based on the principles of Appreciative Inquiry. The practicum, which is required for certification, will embody “Destiny” as you apply the lessons taught during this course for your coaching/consulting work.
Click the session titles below to learn more about each session’s overview and learning outcomes.
In this session, the group will build community collectively in order to function as a strong AICT learning community. Together, they will uncover the Positive Core of AI Coaching, with bold ideas guided by the ICF Core Competencies.
To ensure all participants are off to a strong start, the AICT trainers host a live Foundation Session to give participants the opportunity to connect with the trainers, engage with participants, become familiar with LearnDash (our online learning platform), and ask questions about reading and activities prior to Session 1.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
We look at how Defining the Positive Topic creates the foundation of AI Coaching. Following a demonstration of an AI Coaching session, we will debrief and begin practice in Define.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
During this session, we will review the power of AI interviews as the cornerstone of an Appreciative Inquiry. We will highlight the key processes and points to define an appreciative inquiry topic for a coaching conversation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Through the lens of the ICF Core Competency of Maintaining Presence, we begin to practice the transition of Discovery into Dream. We look at the power of the Preferred Future and how we, as coaches, remain present to support our clients.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
In this session, we examine the AI Principles that apply to the Competency Evokes Awareness. We utilize these principles through powerful questioning, silence, and metaphors to enable our clients to come to their own insights.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
To maximize your personal strengths and enhance your professional skills, it is helpful to understand the styles of communication. In this session, we will introduce Social Style – a helpful tool to help you gain insight into your behavior and the behavior of others. Social Style can serve as a foundation for building on your strengths and the strengths of others to develop productive, positive relationships.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
In this session we will be integrating the learning and focusing on the Core Competency of Evokes Awareness to develop the Provocative Proposition. The Design step of the Appreciative Inquiry emphasizes the coach’s role of being focused, observant and responsive.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Participants receive group coach mentoring, trainer observation, and feedback to contribute and deepen the learning in this course.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
In AI Coaching we see that it is not just the five generic processes because it is flexible and non-linear, and the order is applied as appropriate to best serve the client. As we look to the Competency of Facilitating Client Growth, we see how AI Process and SOAR model can ground the actions to move forward in an appreciative way.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This final session is all about Celebration and Completion. In this deep dive we will review the AI Coaching model, the requirements for program certification, and celebrate your success.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a fully engaged participant who completes the synchronous and asynchronous Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT©), you will:
Your trainers will assign readings from these two books throughout your training. You will need to purchase the textbooks prior to the start of this course. The books are available in electronic or printed versions. Please select the version that is in alignment with your learning style and preference.
Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change (2007) by Sara Orem, Jacqueline Binkert, and Ann L. Clancy.
Flourishing Together: Guide to Appreciative Inquiry Coaching (2016) by Miriam Subriana.
To obtain a letter of completion (and to be eligible for consideration for AI Coach Certification) each participant must complete all 33 hours of synchronous and asynchronous Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training©. Letters of completion include your name, date of your training, and number of classroom hours earned.
In order to qualify for certification as an Appreciative Inquiry Coach with The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, each participant must:
All submitted practicums are reviewed by a panel of seasoned appreciative inquiry practitioners. At least one trainer from your AICT will also be part of the panel that reviews your practicum. The Review Panel may contact you to engage in a conversation about your work once you have submitted your practicum. Typically, they will respond with questions, to deepen their and your shared understanding of AI. The practicum review is therefore a dialogical and interactive process.
Once certified, your Appreciative Inquiry Coach Certification lasts for 2 years and includes: