Virtual Archives - The Center For Appreciative Inquiry

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Cultivating Appreciative Presence

LIVE AUTHENTICALLY WITH APPRECIATIVE PRESENCE

Are you ready to take your Appreciative Inquiry practice to a whole new level? This ground-breaking on-demand course introduces Appreciative Presence – a transformative approach that cultivates the mindset essential for successful and impactful Appreciative Inquiry.

WHY APPRECIATIVE PRESENCE MATTERS

Many of us approach life through an “either/or” lens, where we feel compelled to choose between opposing ideas, such as focus versus openness or challenge versus appreciation. Appreciative Presence shifts this mindset to a “both-and” framework, encouraging the integration of contrasting concepts. This practice fosters adaptability and balance, allowing us to remain mindful and present during challenges while cultivating a perspective of gratitude, potential, and possibility. By embracing this duality, we open ourselves to richer and more nuanced experiences.

Through mindfulness practices, self-reflection exercises, and the latest research in neuroscience, you’ll gain the tools to develop a core mindset, deepen connections, and foster meaningful change in your personal and professional life

COURSE OBJECTIVES

As a fully engaged participant, you will leave this course better able to:

Understand Appreciative Presence. Gain a foundational understanding of what Appreciative Presence is and explore how mindfulness and appreciation are woven together.

Practical Integration. Apply the tenets and practices of Appreciative Presence across personal, professional, and relational contexts.

Adopt a Mindful Approach. Cultivate a mindset that integrates presence and appreciation in everyday interactions.

Foster Authentic Connections. Build stronger relationships through mindful engagement and appreciative practices.

Develop Sustainable Practices. Establish lasting habits that reinforce mindfulness, appreciation, and connection.

Lead with Purpose. Leverage your Appreciative Presence practice to inspire growth and positive change for yourself and others.

COURSE TOPICS

This online course includes 7 engaging topics, each offering opportunities for reflection and practical application. Through targeted exercises designed to ground, elevate, and expand your Appreciative Presence, you will deepen your understanding of how mindfulness and appreciation shape meaningful connections.

Topic 1: WHAT IS APPRECIATIVE PRESENCE?

Explore the essence of Appreciative Presence by reflecting on how to “be” AI before “doing” AI. This foundational topic introduces the importance of cultivating an appreciative way of being that aligns with authenticity, courage, and mindfulness. It highlights the transformative power of adopting a “both-and” mindset that embraces complexity and fosters resilience.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Understand the essence of Appreciative Presence and its role in Appreciative Inquiry.

Explore how mindfulness and appreciation create balance.

Recognize how presence strengthens personal and professional connections.

Navigate challenges authentically and with resilience.

Align intentions and attention with Appreciative Presence principles.

Topic 2: BENEFITS OF APPRECIATIVE PRESENCE

Explore the advantages of practicing Appreciative Presence, focusing on its role in enhancing well-being and fostering deeper connections. Through mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-awareness, you’ll discover how integrating these practices can promote resilience, focus, and a deeper sense of holistic balance.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Understand how Appreciative Presence integrates mindfulness to improve overall well-being.

Explore the connection between self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Strengthen your ability to focus and stay present.

Recognize the benefits of deepening the mind-body connection.

Enhancing Integration and Emotional Regulation

Building Mind-Body Connection for Holistic Growth

Topic 3: LAYERS OF APPRECIATIVE PRESENCE

Discover the five layers of Appreciative Presence, guided through a journey of self-awareness, alignment, and connection. Each layer builds on the previous, cultivating a holistic awareness that integrates your physical, emotional, and cognitive experiences. By exploring these layers, you’ll deepen your presence and foster authentic connections with yourself and others.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Cultivate awareness of the present moment through grounding techniques.

Explore emotions and thoughts with openness and clarity.

Align physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts to create inner harmony.

Foster authentic connections by extending presence outward.

Recognize the ripple effect of Appreciative Presence on relationships and interactions.

Topic 4: DETERMINE MOTIVATING FACTORS

Examine the core motivations behind cultivating Appreciative Presence. By uncovering biases like negativity and implicit bias, understand how these unconscious tendencies shape perceptions and interactions. Build awareness to navigate challenges with discernment and foster equitable, appreciative connections.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Reflect on the motivations behind cultivating Appreciative Presence.

Understand the impact of negativity and implicit biases on perceptions and relationships.

Develop strategies to recognize and challenge unconscious biases.

Cultivate a balanced approach to navigating challenges with appreciation.

Promote equity and discernment in interactions and decision-making.

Topic 5: IDENTIFY YOUR INTENTION

Explore the powerful role of intention in shaping your experiences and future. By reflecting on what motivates us to cultivate Appreciative Presence, we uncover the deeper values and aspirations that guide our actions. This practice enables us to engage fully with the present moment while setting purposeful intentions for growth and connection.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Reflect on the implicit motivations behind cultivating Appreciative Presence.

Understand how intention influences thoughts, behaviors, and personal growth.

Explore the relationship between present awareness and future aspirations.

Recognize the role of responsibility in addressing challenges and fostering growth.

Develop strategies to align present actions with meaningful intentions.

Topic 6: FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION

Master the art of focusing your attention amidst modern distractions, balancing awareness with engagement. By balancing spacious awareness with focused engagement, you’ll learn how to direct your energy toward what truly matters. Through practice, you’ll cultivate mental clarity, agility, and stability, empowering you to navigate life with greater intentionality and presence.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Understand the importance of balancing focused attention with spacious awareness.

Develop practices to maintain mental clarity and stability in a complex world.

Recognize how attention directs energy and shapes meaningful connections.

Cultivate the ability to appreciate and focus on what truly matters.

Apply strategies to strengthen attention and resilience in daily life.

Topic 7: CLOSING THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

Reflect on your journey into Appreciative Presence by exploring embodied awareness and alignment, emphasizing the importance of grounding and centering yourself through aligned listening and mindfulness. Discover the transformative balance between appreciating challenges and honoring growth, showcasing how Appreciative Presence transcends techniques to become a way of being and doing.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Develop practical strategies to sustain Appreciative Presence.

Reflect on the significance of embodied awareness and alignment.

Explore how grounding enhances mindfulness and appreciation.

Understand how “being” and “doing” intersect in Appreciative Inquiry.

Recognize challenges as pathways for growth and learning.

WHO SHOULD ENROLL?

Whether you are new to Appreciative Inquiry or looking to deepen your knowledge, this course is ideal for:

Leaders, facilitators, and coaches aiming to strengthen their Appreciative Inquiry practices.

Professionals seeking to improve self-awareness, communication, and relational skills.

Individuals looking to create a more mindful, appreciative, and balanced life.

DELIVERY FORMAT

The Cultivating Appreciative Presence 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 course offers 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 you. Estimated completion time for this course is 10-12 hours.

All course materials and activities are located online and can be found on LearnDash, the Center for Appreciative Inquiry’s learning management system.

Please note: upon registration, you will gain access to all course materials for a full year, beginning on your registration date. This flexibility allows you to learn at your own pace and revisit, download, and save the content whenever needed during your access period.

Exploring the Principles of Appreciative Inquiry

DISCOVER THE PRINCIPLES THAT DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE

Unlock the transformative power of Appreciative Inquiry by diving into its core principles that inspire strength-based, positive change. Exploring the Principles of Appreciative Inquiry is a self-directed course designed to help you apply AI principles to foster growth, resilience, and innovation in both personal and professional settings.

This course explores both the original and emergent principles of Appreciative Inquiry, equipping you with practical tools and strategies to foster meaningful conversations, inspire collaboration, and create a culture of possibility. While this course functions as a standalone experience, it is also one module of the Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry online program. Throughout the course, you may encounter references to the full program, offering additional context and deeper insights to enhance your learning experience.

WHY THE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY PRINCIPLES MATTER

The principles of Appreciative Inquiry offer more than theoretical insights—they provide a practical framework for transforming conversations, reframing challenges, and co-creating a brighter future. Through these principles, you’ll learn how to focus on strengths, possibilities, and innovation rather than problems, ensuring that your interactions lead to positive outcomes in leadership, team dynamics, and personal growth. These tools empower you to navigate challenges with resilience and spark collaborative transformation in any setting.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

As a fully engaged participant, you will leave this workshop better able to:

Identify and challenge your assumptions, biases, and values and recognize their impact on your actions.

Increase self-awareness through reflection and action.

Engage in inclusive, generative, strengths-based conversations.

Demonstrate how AI principles influence your way of being, thinking, and doing.

Foster inclusive, strength-based conversations.

Apply AI principles to real-world scenarios.

Strengthen leadership skills through positive, future-focused visioning.

Reframe challenges to strengthen personal resilience and growth.

COURSE TOPICS

This online course includes 10 engaging topics, each focused on an Appreciative Inquiry principle. Through reflective exercises, journaling, and practical applications, you will deepen your understanding of how to implement AI principles to real-world contexts. The course offers flexibility for self-paced learning, with an estimated completion time of 5-8 hours.

Topic 1: CONSTRUCTIONIST PRINCIPLE
Explore how the language and conversations we engage in shape our reality – emphasizing the importance of using positive, generative dialogue to create meaningful connections and drive change.

Topic 2: SIMULTANEITY PRINCIPLE
This topic illustrates the concept that inquiry and change happen simultaneously. You’ll explore how asking the right questions can initiate immediate positive shifts in thinking and behavior.

Topic 3: ANTICIPATORY PRINCIPLE
Learn how envisioning a positive future influences present actions. This topic shows how creating hopeful images of what’s possible motivates individuals and teams to align their efforts toward that future.

Topic 4: POETIC PRINCIPLE
Focus on the idea that reality is open to endless interpretations, just like a poem. This topic encourages you to explore how shifting focus to strengths and successes opens up new possibilities for growth and change.

Topic 5: POSITIVE PRINCIPLE
Delve into the power of positive emotions in sustaining growth and innovation. This topic explores how fostering joy, gratitude, and optimism can energize individuals and teams to achieve lasting change.

Topic 6: WHOLENESS PRINCIPLE
Discover the power of inclusivity and collective engagement. This topic highlights how embracing diverse voices fosters connection, shared purpose, and resilient communities.

Topic 7: ENACTMENT PRINCIPLE
Embodying the change you wish to see creates momentum for transformation. This topic explores the link between living your values and generating positive outcomes.

Topic 8: FREE CHOICE PRINCIPLE
Explore how autonomy inspires creativity and engagement. This topic highlights the power of choice in fostering commitment to meaningful change.

Topic 9: NARRATIVE PRINCIPLE
Delve into the transformative power of storytelling. You’ll explore how focusing on positive stories and reframing challenges can inspire new perspectives and drive change.

Topic 10: AWARENESS PRINCIPLE
Learn how self-awareness of biases, assumptions, and perspectives enhance authenticity and fosters deeper, more inclusive connections.

COURSE IDEAL FOR…

Whether you are new to Appreciative Inquiry or looking to deepen your knowledge, this course is ideal for leaders, facilitators, team members, educators, and anyone looking to cultivate positive, strength-based change in their personal or professional lives.

SOAR Design Workshop

IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY & DESIGN SOAR

This SOAR Design Workshop is an engaging and collaborative session where we will explore a variety of SOAR designs from team to division, department, organization, and industry level. During this workshop, participants will learn how to design SOAR engagements to their client or organization’s wishes. There will also be a case scenario on how to help an executive leader learn how to use SOAR.

SOAR DESIGN WORKSHOP DATES & TIMES:

There are two workshops available for you to maximize your SOAR learning, planning, and application: Introduction to SOAR and SOAR Design. Below are the dates and times for both workshops. Please note: Introduction to SOAR is a pre-requisite for the SOAR Design workshop.

INTRODUCTION TO SOAR April 24-25, 2025 9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern	SOAR DESIGN May 16, 2025 9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern
Pre-requisite: None	Pre-requisite: Introduction to SOAR

SOAR DESIGN WORKSHOP CONTENT:

By utilizing the SOAR framework, attendees gain a holistic perspective, fostering a positive and proactive approach to strategy and strategic planning. This interactive session guides participants on how their SOAR designs connect to mission with purpose, encourage teamwork, align those around a shared vision, and ultimately leads to the development of actionable strategies and plans that maximize a team or an organization’s potential for success.

Participants will come to this session with at least one draft of a SOAR strategic engagement. Time will be allotted for asking about SOAR designs and engagements.

PURPOSE:

Identify opportunities to apply and design SOAR engagements.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Recognize and target opportunities for applying SOAR at multiple levels of your organization.

Review a variety of SOAR-based templates.

Case Scenario: What Would You Do?

Draft a SOAR Strategy or Strategic Planning Design.

This workshop highlights the true power of SOAR. I left with a deeper understanding of the framework and how it can be used to improve organizational planning, strengthen teams and guide our own individual development.

– Sara Bozeman, Consultant,
Office of Patient-Centered Care & Cultural Transformation, Department of Veterans Affairs

WORKSHOP TESTIMONIALS

This is a very practical workshop that focuses on helping you better understand the variety of ways SOAR can be used from a single person to a large organization. The instructor is focused on ensuring content is relevant to how you want to use SOAR. She provides many practical examples, article, and other learning materials to continue to explore and grow after the program is over.

– Andrew Whitis, Interim Executive Director, OhioNet

The ‘Introduction to SOAR Creating Strategy and Strategic Plans that Inspire’ training event was very good from start to finish as evidenced by comprehensive pre-training preparation, positive, energizing content that contributed to skills enhancement, glitch free Zoom technology, highly experienced trainers whose interactive training style provided ongoing opportunities for participation including trainee feedback and posing of questions. Post training reading materials were an indicator of going the extra-mile to enhance trainee’s competence and capabilities.

– Dennis Whitford, Owner/Operator, 2Thunder Consulting

As an Organization Development Consultant, I was thrilled to see a public offering for a SOAR workshop presented by Jackie Stavros, the creator of the framework. Having Melissa Robaina bring her expertise with Appreciative Inquiry was a real bonus! The workshop was content rich and the resources exceptional. I am glad I invested in this work and came away with more than I could have hoped for.

– Michele Hansen, Principal, Prismatic Business Solutions

Insightful and impactful — the SOAR sessions re-engaged and energized my thinking about how to apply appreciative inquiry in strategic situations to help individuals, teams, and organizations reach new heights.

– Pam Cash, Co-Founder and Chief of Positive Change, Next Ascent, LLC.

I really appreciate The Center for AI offering such a phenomenal program on SOAR with Jackie and Melissa – WOW! Talk about time well spent — it was an absolute pleasure and privilege and will say that this offering is by far one of the ‘high points’ in my learning journey. Jackie is incredible and her generosity is unparalleled! From the SOAR Design workshop (from part II of the series), I delivered a ‘micro-SOAR’ and council members walked away from the session feeling seen, heard, and inspired. Huge kudos to Jackie for developing dynamic and profound SOAR framework, and her willingness to share her insights!!

– L. Barbour, Resilience Director, Optum Workplace Well-Being

ADDITIONAL WORKSHOP INFORMATION:

REQUIRED BOOK

The SOAR workshops utilize the book, Learning to SOAR: Creating Strategy that Inspires Innovation and Engagement by Jacqueline Stavros and Gina Hinrichs.

You will need to purchase this book prior to the start of this course. This short, easy-to-read book is available in electronic, paperback, or audio – please choose the format that best suits your learning style.

Buy SOAR Book

METHOD OF DELIVERY:

This workshop will be delivered via Zoom and will use various Zoom features, including the annotation tool. To maximize your learning experience, please participate using a desktop or laptop computer. You will receive a Zoom meeting link in a separate email two weeks prior to the event.

LETTER OF COMPLETION

To obtain a letter of completion from The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, each participant must actively participate and complete the workshop. Letters of completion include your name, date of your training, and number of classroom hours earned and will be presented to participants after the training.

WORKSHOP OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Logo for Appreciative Inquiries, LLC.

WANT TO TRAIN A TEAM OR GROUP?

This workshop can be delivered for groups and organizations who wish to train a large number of individuals on the SOAR framework to support their strategy and strategic planning efforts. Please complete the CONTACT US form to receive more information about hosting a private course for your group.

SEE PAYMENT OPTIONS

VIEW REFUND POLICY

VIEW PRIVACY POLICY

SEE TERMS & CONDITIONS

Introduction to SOAR: Creating Strategies & Strategic Plans That Invite Innovation and Engagement

DEVELOP STRATEGY & INVITE ENGAGEMENT USING THE SOAR FRAMEWORK

This workshop provides participants with a foundational understanding of the powerful SOAR framework—Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results—designed to enhance strategic thinking, strategizing, planning, and leading. Attendees will learn to recognize and harness their organization’s internal strengths, identify external opportunities, clarify their aspirations, and define specific results they aspire to achieve.

Through interactive discussions and practical examples, this workshop equips participants with the tools and mindset to adopt a proactive, appreciative, and positive approach to strategy development, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth within their organizations.

Whether applied to business, personal development, or team dynamics, this workshop serves as a gateway to unleashing the full potential of the SOAR framework. Utilize SOAR’s positive framework to enhance your ability to strategize, lead, and plan effectively.

SOAR WORKSHOP DATES & TIMES:

INTRODUCTION TO SOAR April 24-25, 2025 9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern	SOAR DESIGN May 16, 2025 9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern
Pre-requisite: None	Pre-requisite: Introduction to SOAR

INTRODUCTION TO SOAR WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:

SOAR, a positive approach to strategic thinking, planning, leading, conversations, and operating allows anyone at any level in an organization to create strategy and strategic plans.

The operating system of SOAR is Appreciative Inquiry, which is one of the most effective and widely used approaches for strategic change. You will learn how to engage your teams in strategic conversations using SOAR to:

Increase engagement, productivity, commitment, and effectiveness at multiple levels in your organization.

Develop strategies by providing a flexible approach that emphasizes strengths and opportunities, aligning them with aspirations and results.

Create strategic plans with values, vision, mission, purpose, and goals.

Promote positive and forward-thinking, appreciative mindset.

Develop your personal strategic leadership development strategy plan.

SOAR is a valuable framework and approach for organizations looking to take a proactive and positive approach to strategic development, focusing on leveraging their existing strengths and external opportunities to achieve their aspirations and desired results.

– Michele Hansen, Principal, Prismatic Business Solutions

INTRODUCTION TO SOAR WORKSHOP CONTENT:

Introduction to SOAR: Creating Strategies & Strategic Plans that Invite Innovation and Engagement consists of five (5) modules that will provide key insights, learnings, and tools that you can apply in your strategic leadership. Click the title of each module below to display its purpose and learning objectives.

MODULE 1: Strategic Thinking

PURPOSE:

Introduce the value of cultivating strategic thinking skills from an appreciative mindset.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Understand the importance of strategic thinking as cognitive process and mindset.

Learn language of strategy and strategic planning.

Share the history of positive organization science/scholarship (POS).

Introduce Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as the operating system of SOAR.

MODULE 2: Learn SOAR

PURPOSE:

Introduce SOAR framework and approach, its purpose, and how it can be applied in different contexts from strategy to strategic planning and leadership development.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Learn the essence and flexibility of SOAR.

Understand the efficacy of the SOAR elements.

Show how SOAR builds upon SWOT.

Case 1: Strategic Conversation – Revitalization Strategy.

Introduce 3 Key Strategic Factors of SOAR.

MODULE 3: Strategic Applications of SOAR

PURPOSE:

Learn how to apply SOAR at various levels in an organization.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Learn how to apply SOAR in:

- every day strategic conversations.

- coaching and mentoring others.

- creating strategies (Quick SOAR).

Case 2: SOAR: Creating a Strategy at Division Level.

Case 3: SOAR: Strategic Coaching Approach to High-Performing Culture.

MODULE 4: Strategic Planning - SOAR with the Appreciative Inquiry 5-D Cycle

PURPOSE:

Learn how to use SOAR for system-wide strategic planning or change with the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) 5-D/5-I Cycle.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Learn how to involve stakeholder representation on your strategic planning team.

Share the evolution of SOAR with the AI 5-D/5-I Cycle.

Case 4: Creating a Whole System Strategic Plan.

BONUS MODULE: SOAR into your Potential with Purpose

PURPOSE:

Learn how to use SOAR at the level of self to develop effective leadership skills for your strategic leadership development plan.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Learn how to identify your values, vision, and mission with purpose.

Identify your current strengths as a leader and what weakness you might wish to explore to turn it into an opportunity to cultivate a strength.

Explore opportunities for leadership growth and development.

Determine your leadership aspirations: what type of leader are you and want to further develop into?

How to establish specific, measurable results you want to achieve in your leadership development.

Formulate your leadership strategies, plans, and future learning resources.

WORKSHOP TESTIMONIALS

– Andrew Whitis, Interim Executive Director, OhioNet

– Sara Bozeman, Consultant, Office of Patient-Centered Care & Cultural Transformation, Department of Veterans Affairs

– Dennis Whitford, Owner/Operator, 2Thunder Consulting

– Pam Cash, Co-Founder and Chief of Positive Change, Next Ascent, LLC.

– L. Barbour, Resilience Director, Optum Workplace Well-Being