The Center For Appreciative Inquiry

Monday Kickstarters: Turn Challenges into Conversations Worth Having
2024-03-04 09:30 - 2024-03-25 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual Event
TURN CHALLENGES INTO CONVERSATIONS WORTH HAVING
The nature of our conversation is fateful. The way we think and talk about any given situation determines whether we feel energized and good about it, or drained and exhausted. Grounded in the book, Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, Monday Kickstarters invites participants to transform negative, problematic, and stressful interactions they are experiencing into life-giving and generative conversations.
We are living in challenging times, many of us juggle stress, concerns, and challenges daily. We can move forward in ways that offer renewal, reinvention, and resiliency simply by changing our conversations.

EVENT DATES AND TIMES:
WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4 MONDAYMarch 4, 2024 MONDAYMarch 11, 2024﻿ MONDAYMarch 18, 2024﻿ MONDAYMarch 25, 2024﻿ 9:30am-10:00am PT 12:30pm-1:00pm ET 9:30am-10:00am PT 12:30pm-1:00pm ET 9:30am-10:00am PT 12:30pm-1:00pm ET 9:30am-10:00am PT 12:30pm-1:00pm ET

MONDAY KICKSTARTERS OVERVIEW:
Monday Kickstarters is a 4-part virtual series designed to provide you the opportunity to practice asking generative questions to change the way you think about things, interact with others, and create a possibility mindset by talking about what you want instead of what you don’t want. The two practices—generative questions and positive framing–allow you to address even the most challenging problems with creativity and energy. You do not need to attend all 4 sessions to benefit from this virtual series. Please feel free to pop in and out of these sessions as necessary. We encourage you to invite your friends, families, and colleagues who may benefit from these sessions – all are welcome to participate. You only need to register once to participate in the four (4) weekly sessions.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After participating in this event, you will walk away better prepared to:

Shift your mindset to foster resilience and positivity;

Fuel productive and meaningful engagement;

Communicate effectively with colleagues, constituents, and family;

Ask questions that communicate care and deepen connection;

Frame complex problems to inspire creativity and innovative solutions.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

EVENT VIDEOS AND MATERIALS

To prepare for these live conversations, please view this 3-minute Instructional Video, which provides an overview and instructions for the Kickstarters sessions. We also encourage you to download our free Conversation toolkit and the Preface and Introduction to Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, available at https://conversationsworthhaving.today/
METHOD OF DELIVERY
These live events will be delivered using Zoom. You can participate in these live events using any device: computer, tablet, or mobile. Please participate using the dial-in method you feel most comfortable with. You will receive the Zoom login information upon registration. If you have any questions about this event or have difficulty connecting in Zoom, please contact Kelly Stewart at kelly@thepositivebusiness.com. This free event is open to everyone, however due to Zoom limitations, only the first 100 participants to log on will be able to participate in each of the live scheduled webinars. We encourage participants to log onto Zoom early to secure their seat.
CONTINUED LEARNING AND PRACTICE

If you wish to continue learning about Conversations Worth Having, we invite you to join us for the virtual Conversations Worth Having Bootcamps.

Conversation Bootcamp

Strategic Conversation Bootcamp

EVENT IS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH

Activating Citizen-Driven Communities with Appreciative Inquiry
2024-02-12 16:30 - 2024-03-04 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual Event
SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITH APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a highly effective change model that supports community development efforts by inviting community members to engage in meaningful discussions that identify strengths, create shared visions, develop strategies, and inspire action for change. AI’s inclusive design builds collective capacity by pooling the community’s knowledge, experience, and strengths in generating new opportunities. Through the art of positive inquiry, community members come together in a collaborative search for strengths, passions, values, and actions which facilitates citizen-driven actions and change. Drawing on these strengths, AI empowers communities and its citizens to chart a path to turn their vision into reality. “The interactive activities and thought-provoking discussions encourage participants to think critically and apply concepts in practical scenarios. Her success in achieving valuable insights from participants is undoubtedly attributed to her approach, passion, and knowledge.” – Anna Pijaca (Research and Engagement Manager | City Experience and Engagement, Local Council). Learn how Appreciative Inquiry can renew energy and hope and inspire action in communities you belong to, work with, and serve.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After completing Activating Citizen-Driven Communities with Appreciative Inquiry, you will be better able to:

Understand how Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and strengths/asset-based approaches can be applied to community development work.

Confidently question and challenge deficit-based community development practice and introduce strengths-based, Appreciative Inquiry approaches to foster citizen driven communities.

Identify and appreciate assets and strengths and elicit positive stories to discover what strong in our communities.

Formulate and ask powerful, positive, and generative questions.

Intentionally seek new ways of understanding, defining, labelling, and interacting with people and groups we work with.

Apply AI tools and practices for community conversations, engagement, and planning.

Positively impact their organization by introducing concepts and practices that enhance the capacity of staff to work more effectively with communities.

EVENT DATES AND TIMES:
SESSION 1 SESSION 2 SESSION 3 SESSION 4 Western Hemisphere Monday February 12, 2024 4:30pm-7:00pm PST 7:30pm-10:00pm EST Monday February 19, 2024 4:30pm-7:00pm PST 7:30pm-10:00pm EST Monday February 26, 2024 4:30pm-7:00pm PST 7:30pm-10:00pm EST Monday March 4, 2024 4:30pm-7:00pm PST 7:30pm-10:00pm EST Eastern Hemisphere Tuesday February 13, 2024 8:30am-11:00am HKT 11:30am-2:00pm AET Tuesday February 20, 2024 8:30am-11:00am HKT 11:30am-2:00pm AET Tuesday February 27, 2024 8:30am-11:00am HKT 11:30am-2:00pm AET Tuesday March 5, 2024 8:30am-11:00am HKT 11:30am-2:00pm AET

TRAINING SESSIONS:
This course consists of four (4) virtual sessions that will provide key insights, learnings, and tools that you can apply in your community development work. Click the title of each session below to display the topics that will be covered during that session. TOPICS COVERED DURING THIS SESSION:

An Appreciative approach to community development.

The Paradigm Shift: Traditional/Deficit approach Vs. Appreciative/Asset Based Community Development approach.

AI principles – Guiding our work with communities.

How we see our Communities (Psychological theories -The Pygmalion Effect, Heliotropic Effect in the Context of Working with Marginalised/Disenfranchised/Disadvantaged communities).

TOPICS COVERED DURING THIS SESSION:

Flip the Script: Reframing Problems to Create Possibilities/Opportunities.

Words Create Communities – the Power of Language & Words in creating Thriving Communities.

Shifting Perceptions:

Challenging Negative/Derogatory labels.

Cultivating Stories and Successes.

TOPICS COVERED DURING THIS SESSION:

Discovering Strengths & Assets: Igniting Sparks in People & Communities.

Appreciative Inquiry Questions & Conversations: formulating and articulating generative and positive questions.

Soliciting Positive Stories and Finding Out What Works.

TOPICS COVERED DURING THIS SESSION:

Community Consultations and Conversations: Applying an Appreciative Inquiry approach for Citizen-Centered outcomes.

AI 5D cycle for implementing community actions, plans, and change.

Open Space Technology: highly participatory, inclusive, and collaborative method for large group/community meetings.

Commitment Wall.

DESIGNED FOR:
This course is ideal for:

Community development, engagement, and consultation workers and practitioners.

Individuals that work with specific community groups (e.g., youth, family support, seniors).

Students and graduates interested in working in community.

Entrepreneurs and organizations interested in their social impact, creating a community footprint, and supporting their communities.

Anyone who volunteers, works with, or serves the community in some capacity to improve the development and capacity of communities.

PROGRAM OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

WANT TO TRAIN A TEAM OR GROUP?
This course can be delivered for groups and organizations who wish to train a large number of individuals who wish to support their community development efforts with appreciative inquiry. Please complete the CONTACT US form to receive more information about hosting a private course for your group.

Appreciative Inquiry + Visuals = Meeting Design
2024-02-07 11:00 - 2024-02-22 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual Event
EVENT DATE & TIME:
Free Event Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 SNEAK PEEK DEFINE/DISCOVER DREAM DESIGN DESTINY/DELIVER Wednesday,February 7, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm PST 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST Monday, February 19, 2024 11:00am - 1:00pm PST 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST Tuesday, February 20, 202411:00am - 1:00pm PST 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST Wednesday,February 21, 202411:00am - 1:00pm PST 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST Thursday, February 22, 202411:00am - 1:00pm PST 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Combining visuals with the facilitated Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process increases participant engagement in meetings through a shared vision of understanding—not to mention, enjoyment! Imagine where you fall in a Venn diagram. Whether you are an AI Facilitator who wants to add visuals to your toolbox, or an experienced Visual Practitioner who wants to integrate AI into your work, the combination of the two offer a rich, interactive environment for both online or in-person meetings.
This course is designed to give you a variety of visual tools, templates and exercises that align with each step of the Appreciative Inquiry 5D Framework: Define, Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny/Deliver. Following the framework, you will be provided visual template you may customize to use as facilitation tools designed to meet your clients’ desired outcomes. We will explore these complimentary approaches with others in the AI and/or visual field to deepen your understanding and bring value to your projects.
The live, online sessions will allow you to experience the process as a participant and give you the insights to apply to your facilitative practice. Participants do not need to know how to draw, just have an open mind to drawing. We will cover several ways to make meetings visual without drawing live in front of your client. Nor do participants need to be certified AI facilitators or coaches. Regardless of your skill level, your interest and passion will drive your curiosity. Together we will dive deep into the value of visuals in AI facilitated meetings.
The four sessions will be recorded should you have a schedule conflict and so you may access them anytime.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Each session offers a new library of resources to support your visual AI facilitation efforts.
SESSION 1: DEFINE/DISCOVER

You will discover how visuals and AI can be used to visually facilitate a discovery meeting with a client. There will be prework for this session so that you can start integrating what you learn right away.
SESSION 2: DREAM
Together we will leverage a series of visual templates to dream about the common desired outcomes of meetings and what you would like to gain out of the course.
SESSION 3: DESIGN
Co-creation is key! We will custom design visual templates based on the AI questions we develop to engage participants. These will be shared to increase our library of resources.
SESSION 4: DESTINY/DELIVER
There are many analog and digital visual tools used to support meaningful conversations. We will determine the appropriate tool for the job based on efficacy and your comfort level.
FREE EVENT: SNEAK PEEK SESSION
In addition to these live sessions, free sneak peak sessions and open office hours will be offered so that you can see how meeting agendas are visualized in real-time.
MATERIALS:
Visual templates and exercises shared in this class can be further customized for your use with any individual, team, organization or community. Additional resources will be shared should you want to expand your AI + Visuals practice. Participants will have full access to the instructor during open office hours and via email between sessions for feedback.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
This workshop is designed for:

AI Facilitators or meeting organizers who want to add visuals to their toolbox.
Visual Practitioners who want to integrate AI into their work.

PRE-REQUISITE:
Please watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsUZB6lQX6E&t=12s
PRE-WORK/HOMEWORK:
A week prior to the first session, you will receive an email that includes pre-work to get you thinking about a current client or project that you would like to apply your learnings to. Between each session, you will receive homework in the form of visual templates and checklists you can customize and use in the delivery of your AI + Visual work.
METHOD OF DELIVERY:
This live event where you will learn to use visuals with Appreciative Inquiry will be delivered using Zoom and will be using the Zoom annotation tool. While you may participate in this live event using any device: computer or tablet, you will have the most optimal experience if you join via a laptop or desktop computer.
You will receive the Zoom login information prior to the Sneak Peek and the Course. If you have any questions about this event or have difficulty connecting in Zoom, please contact Heather Martinez at Heather@HeatherMartinez.com.

Accelerated Virtual Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (vAIFT)
2024-02-05 05:00 - 2024-02-08 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Please see the accelerated virtual Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator training course schedule below for local times in the Eastern, Pacific, Newfoundland, and South Africa time zones.
FACILITATE POSITIVE CHANGE USING APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an energizing and inclusive process that fosters creativity through the art of positive inquiry. It builds new skills in individuals and groups, develops new leaders, encourages a culture of inquiry, and helps create shared vision and purpose by building on an organization’s core values and strengths. The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) is a foundational program designed to teach you how to facilitate the type of transformative change made possible through Appreciative Inquiry. In addition to introducing the basic tenets of Appreciative Inquiry (e.g., principles, 5-Ds, and theory), the AIFT delves deeper by providing experiential exercises that will teach you how to work with core teams, define a topic of inquiry, craft generative questions, field test interview protocols, establish action items, and more.
DESIGNED FOR:

Leaders in businesses and corporations, community development, educational organizations, governmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations–in short, anyone who wants to learn how to facilitate Appreciative Inquiry.
TRAINING SEGMENTS:

The AIFT consists of eight (8) modules within the four training segments. Each segment consists of modules containing exercises, readings, and discussions.
DEFINE AI AND BUILD COMMUNITY
Learning Outcomes:

Build community collaboratively in order to function in a strong learning community.

Reflect on how you will build community in the future as an AI facilitator.

Define appreciative inquiry.

Develop a common understanding what appreciative inquiry is and how it is applied.

EXPERIENCE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learning Outcomes:

Experience the five generic processes of appreciative inquiry as they apply to designing your learning within the AIFT.

UNCOVER THE POWER OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learning Outcomes:

Identify and ingrate key theory components of appreciative inquiry to support your foundations as an AI facilitator.

CREATE TOPICS OF INQUIRY AND INTERVIEW GUIDES
Learning Outcomes:

Identify an affirmative topic for an inquiry and modify the generic interview guide.

Reflect on facilitator considerations.

KEY AI FACILITATION CONSIDERATIONS
Learning Outcomes:

Assess and integrate key appreciative inquiry facilitation considerations.

Learn about Core Teams and their role in the AI Process.

Learn various forms of AI engagement.

GROUND APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY IN EVIDENCE
Learning Outcomes:

Discover the research and evidence that underpins the work of appreciative inquiry and integrate these ideas into your facilitation toolkit.

LIVE AND FACILITATE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learning Outcomes:

Integrate facilitator skills and knowledge and seek to clarify how you will process as an AI facilitator.

Learn about the four clusters of competencies in developing emotional and social intelligence.

Create a personal action plan around the topic of “being your best as a facilitator”.

GROUND APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY IN EVIDENCE
Learning Outcomes:

Learn about the requirements needed to earn your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification from The Center for Appreciative Inquiry.

Utilize a checklist for designing and facilitating systems change.

LETTER OF COMPLETION

To obtain a letter of completion (and to be eligible for consideration for AI Facilitator Certification) each participant must complete 26 training hours. Letters of completion include your name, date of your training, and number of classroom hours earned.
AIFT SCHEDULE:

This Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT©) is an intensive certification program consisting of 26 hours of synchronous (live sessions hosted through Zoom) and asynchronous (assigned reading and activities outside of class time) learning over the course of 4 days. During the training, participants will meet for four hours (two hour training blocks with a two hour break between) to engage in a training session designed to guide them through the full range and depth of what it means to be an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator. Below are the dates and times for the synchronous portion for this training: ORIENTATION DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 MONDAYJanuary 29, 2024 MONDAYFebruary 5, 2024 TUESDAYFebruary 6, 2024 WEDNESDAYFebruary 7, 2024 THURSDAYFebruary 8, 2024 EASTERN TIME12:00pm-1:00pm 8:00am-10:00am ESTand12:00pm-2:00pm EST 8:00am-10:00am ESTand12:00pm-2:00pm EST 8:00am-10:00am ESTand12:00pm-2:00pm EST 8:00am-10:00am ESTand12:00pm-2:00pm EST PACIFIC TIME9:00am-10:00am 5:00am-7:00am PSTand9:00am-11:00am PST 5:00am-7:00am PSTand9:00am-11:00am PST 5:00am-7:00am PSTand9:00am-11:00am PST 5:00am-7:00am PSTand9:00am-11:00am PST NEWFOUNDLAND TIME1:30pm-2:30pm 9:30am-11:30am NSTand1:30pm-3:30pm NST 9:30am-11:30am NSTand1:30pm-3:30pm NST 9:30am-11:30am NSTand1:30pm-3:30pm NST 9:30am-11:30am NSTand1:30pm-3:30pm NST SOUTH AFRICA TIME 7:00pm-8:00pm 3:00pm-5:00pm SASTand7:00pm-9:00pm SAST 3:00pm-5:00pm SASTand7:00pm-9:00pm SAST 3:00pm-5:00pm SASTand7:00pm-9:00pm SAST 3:00pm-5:00pm SASTand7:00pm-9:00pm SAST
We start all synchronous sessions on time and work diligently to maintain the vAIFT schedule, honoring our commitment to the learning experience. We have found full participation to be the most productive for the participants and the trainers. Please note: local times vary by time zone. The synchronous portions of the vAIFT are highly experiential and will not be recorded. The vAIFT Trainers will be utilizing breakout rooms to develop community and trust amongst participants, conduct paired interviews, and engage in small group discussions and reflections.
ORIENTATION
To ensure that all participants are off to a strong start, your vAIFT trainers will host a live, one-hour orientation session via Zoom on Monday, January 29th at 12:00pm Eastern Time/9:00am Pacific Time/1:30pm Newfoundland Time/4:00pm South Africa Time. Orientation allows you to connect with your trainers, engage with participants, become familiar with LearnDash (our online learning platform), and ask questions about pre-workshop reading and activities prior to your first vAIFT session in Zoom on Monday, February 5, 2024.
ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (person, virtual, or hybrid) utilizes the textbook, Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination (2nd Edition) by Jane Magruder Watkins, Bernard Mohr, and Ralph Kelly. This book is available in electronic or paperback versions. Please select the version that is in alignment with your learning style and preference. Click on the book cover image to learn more about the book and order your copy.
METHOD OF DELIVERY
Participants in this Appreciative Inquiry training program will receive login information to the Center for Appreciative Inquiry’s (CAI) online learning platform closer to the training date. We will open the online platform to participants prior to the start of the training. This allows participants time to navigate the software and become acquainted with the various features and tools it offers, introduce themselves to their trainers and other vAIFT participants, and access all pre-workshop reading and materials.
CERTIFICATION PROCESS:

REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify for certification as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator with The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, each participant must:

Actively participate in an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT).

Design and facilitate an appreciative inquiry engagement for a team, organization, group, or community using the 5-D Appreciative Inquiry process. Your AIFT trainers serve as an advisor to you during your practicum – at no extra cost.

Complete and submit a practicum (narrative) for review. Practicums demonstrate your understanding and application of Appreciative Inquiry by sharing your facilitation experience, learnings, insights, and outcomes.

PRACTICUM REVIEW

Participants have up to one year from the date of their training to submit their practicum for review. All submitted practicums are reviewed by a panel of seasoned appreciative inquiry practitioners. At least one trainer from your AIFT 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.
WHAT’S INCLUDED

Once certified, your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification lasts for 2 years and includes:

An Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification document for your records;

Permission to use of the Center for Appreciative Inquiry Certification logo to embed on your website or include in your email signature;

Exclusive access to content and events reserved only for certified AI Community Members.

A free profile listing on our Appreciative Inquiry Directory for the duration of your certification. Learn more about the benefits of our AI Directory here.

Virtual Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (vAIFT)
2024-01-22 09:00 - 2024-02-01 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CAI Online Learning Platform
Register before November 17, 2023 and take an additional 10% off the Early Bird pricing. Use coupon code AIJan2024 at checkout. Make 2024 the year you learn to lead positive change in your organization or enhance certifications you might hold in Leadership Development, Change Management, Organizational Development, Human Resource Management, Project Management, and Training and Facilitation Certifications. The virtual AIFT program is an intensive program spanning over the course of 2-weeks including synchronous and asynchronous portions as well as an orientation.
The SYNCHRONOUS portion (‘real time’ learning with your vAIFT trainers). Below are the hours for live interaction and collaboration with your vAIFT trainers and cohorts:
WEEK 1: MONDAYJan. 22, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT) TUESDAYJan. 23, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT) WEDNESDAYJan. 24, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT) THURSDAYJan. 25, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT) WEEK 2: MONDAYJan. 29, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT) TUESDAYJan. 30, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT) WEDNESDAYJan. 31, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT) THURSDAYFeb. 1, 20249:00am-11:00am (PDT)

*Please note: all times listed above are Pacific Standard Time (PST)
The ASYNCHRONOUS portion of your training begins:

Monday, January 22, 2024 with introductory activities and runs throughout the 2 weeks of synchronous learning. You will receive login information to the Center for Appreciative Inquiry’s (CAI) online learning platform closer to the vAIFT start date.

To ensure that all participants are off to a strong start, your vAIFT trainers will host a live orientation session via Zoom on Monday, January 8th at 9:00am Pacific Time. Orientation allows you to connect with your trainers, engage with participants, become familiar with LearnDash (our online learning platform), and ask questions about pre-workshop reading and activities prior to your first vAIFT session in Zoom on Monday, January 22, 2024. The virtual Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (vAIFT) is designed to be a blended learning experience. This means portions of the course will be delivered synchronously (in real-time through services like Zoom) and asynchronously (you read and participate in activities and exercises at a time/pace/place that works best for you to be ready for the synchronous session). The combination of synchronous and asynchronous work will equate to 26 training hours (same as our face-to-face AIFT program). Participants will need to complete the program in its entirety to be eligible to earn their AI Facilitator Certification, this includes participating in all synchronous sessions.
Please note: the synchronous portions of the vAIFT are highly experiential and will not be recorded. The vAIFT Trainers will be utilizing breakout rooms to develop community and trust amongst participants, conduct paired interviews, and engage in small group discussions and reflections. The Virtual Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (vAIFT) © is a two-week online certification program (see specific schedule below) that engages participants to learn about the foundations and principles of Appreciative Inquiry as well as provide the skills necessary to facilitate appreciative inquiry sessions in all human systems (large or small). This course teaches the basics of Appreciative Inquiry (e.g. principles, 5-Ds, supporting theory and research, etc.) but delves deeper by providing experiential exercises that teach participants how to define the topic of inquiry, practice positive framing, work with core teams, design and field test an interview protocol, and more…
This Appreciative Inquiry foundations course includes mini-lectures, and experiential learning (individual, pairs, trios, small group, and large group) as well as auditory and visual materials to enhance the learning experience. Leaders in businesses and corporations, community development, educational organizations, governmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations–in short, anyone who wants to learn how to facilitate Appreciative Inquiry. AIFT is divided into 4 ‘segments’. Each segment consists of modules containing exercises, readings, and discussions.
SEGMENT I – EXPERIENCING APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learn basic processes and experience AI by participating in a facilitated Appreciative Inquiry led by the Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training Trainers
SEGMENT II – UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Actively learn about the concepts, principles, theories and research.
SEGMENT III – PLANNING AND DESIGNING AN APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY SESSION
Plan and practice how you will begin helping your organization, group, or community build upon their strengths.
SEGMENT IV – PRACTICING APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY APPLICATIONS

Practice exercises you can take home to use Appreciative Inquiry in your personal and professional life.
Practice choosing the best language, words for facilitating Appreciative Inquiry within a particular culture.
Begin developing your plan to become a certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator by completing a Practicum/Supervised Experience.

We will start our synchronous sessions on time and work diligently to maintain the vAIFT schedule, honoring our commitment to the learning experience. We have found full participation to be the most productive for the participants and the trainers. As a fully engaged participant in the Virtual Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (vAIFT©), you will leave the workshop better able to:

Create/enhance your personal way of being and doing in order to use an appreciative approach; focus on what’s right in your world, so that you can deeply inquire into what’s right and why, and then find ways of intentionally creating more of what’s right in your world.
Facilitate individuals, groups, organizations, and communities to create collective ways of being and doing using an appreciative approach; that will help them focus on what’s right so that they can deeply inquire into what’s right and why, and then find ways of intentionally working with them to both create more of what’s right and envision innovation and new ways of being and doing.

To obtain a letter of completion (and to be eligible for consideration for AI Facilitator Certification) each participant must complete 26 training hours. Letters of completion include your name, date of your training, and number of classroom hours earned. Each of our certification courses require a written practicum (‘narrative’) of your work. The learning management system will be accessible to you to review materials for a full year after the vAIFT. The purpose of your practicum is to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, its various applications, what you learned, etc. Participants will submit their practicum for review by our Practicum Review Committee which consists of 2-4 seasoned Ai practitioners. It is standard practice for the panel to engage participants in a conversation (conducted virtually) about their practicum. Typically, they will respond with questions to deepen their and the participant’s mutual understanding of, and learning about, AI. The practicum review is therefore a dialogical and interactive process.
Participants have up to one year from the date of their training to submit their practicum for review. During this time, your trainers make themselves available to you for mentoring and support (at no additional cost) as you work through your first inquiry. Your mentoring/support can be done via telephone, skype, zoom, etc. You and your trainers can arrange a time and platform in which to conduct these sessions. Learn more about our Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification requirements here.
Once certified, your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification lasts for 2 years. AI Certification with the Center for Appreciative Inquiry includes:

Appreciative Inquiry Certification document that will be emailed to you for your records;
Center for Appreciative Inquiry Certification logo that you are welcome to embed on your website or include in your email signature;
Listing on our Appreciative Inquiry Directory. Your Ai Directory listing is an editable profile page that includes your photo and professional biography that highlights your specialties, articles, videos and testimonials. Directory profiles are easy to create and update and will make you locatable by our worldwide audience. All Directory profiles will remain visible on our website for the duration of your certification. Our Appreciative Inquiry certification is good for 2 years; after which you may renew your Ai certification. You can learn more about the benefits of our AI Directory here.

Participants will receive login information to the Center for Appreciative Inquiry’s (CAI) online learning platform closer to the training date. We will open the online platform to participants prior to the start of the training. This allows participants time to navigate the software and become acquainted with the various features and tools it offers, introduce themselves to their trainers and other vAIFT participants, and access all pre-workshop reading and materials. All fees are due upon registration. Your full participation is very important to us and we know that from time to time, your plans to attend one of our workshops or programs may change. Our refund policy reflects our interest in your continued growth and learning journey as well as our planning needs and expenses incurred based on your enrollment. For more information about our Refund Policy, please click here. Company of Experts.net does not sell nor share information gathered at its Web Site to any third party outside of the provider network to which it belongs. By using this Site, or by joining our e-mail distribution list, you are not identifying nor disclosing your affiliation with us, our partners, or anyone. For more information about our Privacy Policy, click here. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE. All users of this site agree that access to and use of this site are subject to the following terms and conditions and other applicable law. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, please do not use this site. To read the complete list of Company of Experts’ terms and conditions, please click here.

Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT©)
2024-01-03 09:00 - 2024-03-13 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS THAT INSPIRE CHANGE
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.
AICT PROGRAM OVERVIEW
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.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND

The Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT©) is ideal for:

Individuals who understand and embody a strengths-based AI paradigm, who want to deepen their ability to relate one-on-one in bringing out the best in individuals (including themselves). It is therefore useful to leaders and managers in business and corporations, community development, educational organizations, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations, and consultants, coaches, facilitators, educators, pastors/priests, etc;

Individuals who desire to enhance their systems thinking in order to engage individuals in a holistic and integrated way;

Experienced Appreciative Inquiry Facilitators who would like to strengthen and practice their individual communication skills;

Experienced coaches who seek to strengthen their life-enriching ways of coaching.

PREREQUISITES

To enroll in this advanced-level course, participants must meet one of the following three prerequisites:

Experienced coaches who seek to strengthen their life-enriching ways of coaching. OR

Successful completion of an approved Appreciative Inquiry Foundations course (with a minimum of 26 classroom hours) OR

Successful completion in an International Coaching Federation accredited course within the past 2 years or hold a commensurate professional coach credential AND verified completion of the Self-Directed Appreciative Inquiry Introduction offered by the Center for Appreciative Inquiry.

TRAINING DATES AND TIMES
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.
FOUNDATION SESSION – WELCOME & ORIENTATION
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.
AICT TRAINING SESSIONS

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.
BUILDING A LEARNING COMMUNITY
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:

Become familiar with the 5 Generic Processes of AI.

Understand the framework and tools that we will use in the AICT.

Build a community of practice by getting to know one another and creating Appreciative Agreements.

Understand the difference between coaching and facilitating.

Uncover the Positive Core of AI Coaching.

Clarifying the Core Competencies from the ICF as they apply to AI Coaching.

Experience AI with a 5-D inquiry to refresh prior learning and “mining” the collective knowledge & skills present.

DEFINING THE POSITIVE TOPIC IN COACHING
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:

Defining the Topic of a coaching conversation using Reframing.

Understanding the 4 Levels of Listening.

Observing and debriefing a coaching session.

Examining Core Competencies:

Establishes and Maintains Agreements, and

Listens Actively

THE POWER OF QUESTIONS AND CONTRACTING
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:

Understand how to establish the coaching agreement and become familiar with examples of coaching contracts.

Demonstrate the ability to work with the client to define the coaching topic using Reframing.

Become familiar with the three levels of contracting.

Understand the Appreciative Inquiry principles and how they are applied in the coaching relationship.

Understand how to modify the Generic Interview Guide to meet client needs.

Examining Core Competencies:

Establishes and Maintains Agreements, and

Cultivates Trust and Safety.

MAINTAINING PRESENCE – THE TRANSITION FROM DISCOVERY TO DREAM
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:

Distinguishing Discovery to Dream in a coaching session.

Creating images of a Preferred Future.

Practice coaching and feedback.

Examining Core Competencies:

Maintains Presence, and

Listens Actively.

EVOKING AWARENESS THROUGH THE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY PRINCIPLES
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:

Applying the Core Competency Evokes Awareness by using the tools of coaching.

Use of powerful questions, silence, metaphors, and analogy.

Applying “Big Picture” Systems Thinking.

Exploring the AI Principles that apply to this competency; Anticipatory, Constructionist, Simultaneity and Positive principles.

Practice coaching and feedback.

UNDERSTANDING OUR CLIENTS – SOCIAL STYLES FOR COACHING
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:

Understanding the Social Style Framework.

Gaining insight about why you find some relationships more productive than others.

Better understanding of how Social Style can assist you to consider their behavioral needs and preferences of your clients.

DEVELOPING A PROVOCATIVE PROPOSITION IN COACHING
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:

Understanding how to work with clients to develop meaningful, bold, and affirmative provocative propositions using Reframing, Generic Interview Questions and reflecting on High Energy Themes.

Understanding the SCARF model and the five domains of human social experience.

Becoming familiar with Systems Thinking and the factors that may influence and inform Design.

COACHING CLINIC – PRACTICE WITH TRAINER OBSERVATION AND FEEDBACK
Participants receive group coach mentoring, trainer observation, and feedback to contribute and deepen the learning in this course. LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Applying all aspects of the coaching conversation in practice with feedback and observations.

Experience both coaching and being coached.

FACILITATING CLIENT GROWTH – CREATING THE FUTURE
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:

To focus on helping the client ground their dreams in the present.

Completing the coaching session powerfully to expand the client’s capability to create their dream.

Processes and tools to end a coaching conversation.

Examine Core Competency: Facilitates Client Growth.

PRACTICUM, FEEDBACK, AND CELEBRATION
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:

Become familiar with the value of gratitude interventions and the value that they bring to the coaching relationship.

Understand the requirements to complete the Practicum and obtain the Appreciative Inquiry Coach certification.

Provide feedback on the AICT experience.

Take the opportunity to demonstrate gratitude to members of the AICT class.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES
As a fully engaged participant who completes the synchronous and asynchronous Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT©), you will:

Build confidence in co-creating new and inspiring futures in deep relationship with your clients to bring out their essential capacity.

Gain a deeper understanding of Systems Thinking, and how this view clarifies how environmental elements impact personal and organizational change.

Develop a clear understanding of the Core Competencies of the International Coaching Federation as they relate to the 5-D process.

Discover how to deepen and enhance both your personal sense of yourself as well as your ability to create generative one-on-one conversations, using the Social Style framework to enhance your personal insight and how you relate to the individuals you coach.

Become eligible for certification as an Appreciative Coach.

This course is an approved ICF (International Coaching Federation) Continuing Coach Education (CCE) program. Students who complete this program will be able to apply 32 hours toward renewal requirements or as part of an application for an International Coaching Federation (ICF) credential.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING INFORMATION

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

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.
LETTER OF COMPLETION
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.
AI COACH CERTIFICATION PROCESS

REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify for certification as an Appreciative Inquiry Coach with The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, each participant must:

Actively participate and successfully complete the Appreciative Inquiry Coach Training (AICT) in its entirety, including all online coursework.

Coach an individual using all five generic processes of Appreciative Inquiry: Define, Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny. Your AICT trainers serve as an advisor to you during your practicum – at no extra cost.

Complete and submit a practicum (narrative) of your Appreciative Coaching experience that is suitable for publication. Practicums must demonstrate your understanding and practice of Appreciative coaching in a one-on-one client engagement.

PRACTICUM REVIEW
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.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Once certified, your Appreciative Inquiry Coach Certification lasts for 2 years and includes:

An Appreciative Inquiry Coach Certification document for your records;

Permission to use of the Center for Appreciative Inquiry Certification logo to embed on your website or include in your email signature;

Exclusive access to content and events reserved only for certified AI Community Members.

A free profile listing on our Appreciative Inquiry Directory for the duration of your certification. Learn more about the benefits of our AI Directory here.

Monday Kickstarter Conversations: Holiday Series
2023-12-04 12:30 - 2023-12-11 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
SCHEDULE:
Dates: Every Monday (December 4 and December 11, 2023)
Time: 12:30-1:00pm Eastern Time (9:30-10:00am Pacific Time)
Turn stress and challenges into conversations worth having. These 2-weekly Zoom sessions serve as an opportunity for you to practice generative questions and positive framing on issues and concerns you are currently experiencing. You do not need to attend both sessions to benefit from this virtual series. Please feel free to attend when you can. We encourage you to invite your friends, families, and colleagues who may benefit – all are welcome to participate. You only need to register once to participate in the two (2) weekly sessions.
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
We are living in challenging times, many of us juggle stress, concerns, and challenges daily. We can move forward in ways that offer renewal, reinvention, and resiliency simply by changing our conversations.

The nature of our conversation is fateful. The way we think and talk about any given situation determines whether we feel energized and good about it, or drained and exhausted. Grounded in our book, Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, we will be working with whoever is on the call to transform negative, problematic, and stressful interactions they share into life-giving and generative conversations. You’ll have the opportunity to practice asking generative questions to change the way you think about things, interact with others, and create a possibility mindset by talking about what you want instead of what you don’t want. The two practices—generative questions and positive framing–allow you to address even the most challenging problems with creativity and energy.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
You will walk away prepared to:

Shift your mindset to foster resilience and positivity
Fuel productive and meaningful engagement
Communicate effectively with colleagues, constituents, and family
Ask questions that communicate care and deepen connection
Frame complex problems to inspire creativity and innovative solutions.

EVENT VIDEOS AND MATERIALS:
To prepare for these live conversations, please view this 3-minute Instructional Video, which provides an overview and instructions for the Kickstarters sessions.
We also encourage you to download our free Conversation toolkit, our Two Practices toolkit and the Preface and Introduction to Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, available at Conversations Worth Having.
METHOD OF DELIVERY:
These live events will be delivered using Zoom. You can participate in these live events using any device: computer, tablet, or mobile.
You will receive the Zoom login information upon registration. If you have any questions about this event or have difficulty connecting in Zoom, please contact Kelly Stewart at kelly@thepositivebusiness.com.
This free event is open to everyone, however due to Zoom limitations, only the first 100 participants to log on will be able to participate in each of the live scheduled webinars. We encourage participants to log onto Zoom early to secure their seat.
CONTINUED LEARNING AND PRACTICE:
If you wish to continue learning about Conversations Worth Having, we invite you to join us for the virtual Conversations Worth Having Bootcamps.

Conversation Bootcamp
Strategic Conversation Bootcamp

EVENT IS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH:
