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

DEVELOP STRATEGY & ENGAGEMENT USING 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.

SOAR Framework stands for: Strengths - what are we best at? Opportunities: what are the possibilities? Aspirations: what are our dreams and wishes? and Results: what are meaningful and measurable results?

Utilize SOAR’s positive framework to enhance your ability to strategize, lead, and plan effectively.

SOAR WORKSHOP DATES & TIMES:

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

LEARNING TO SOAR Workshop

Thursday, April 18, 2024

9:00am-4:00pm Eastern Time

SOAR DESIGN Workshop

Friday, May 10, 2024

9am-12pm Eastern Time

Pre-requisite: None

Pre-requisite: Learning to SOAR

LEARNING 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.

SOAR is a whole systems approach to strategic planning and invited inclusiveness and psychological safe space for us to learn. Jackie shared how her human operating system is Appreciative Inquiry (AI). I was able to galvanize leadership, engage all, and strengthen collaboration.
– Goren B. Dillard, MSOD, CASE, Urban League

LEARNING TO SOAR WORKSHOP CONTENT:

Learning 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 book is available in electronic or paperback versions. Please select the version that is in alignment with your learning style and preference.

METHOD OF DELIVERY:

This program will be delivered using Zoom and will be using various Zoom features, including the Zoom annotation tool. To maximize your learning experience and engagement, please participate in this course on your computer (desktop or laptop). 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 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:

SOAR Logo consists of the acronym SOAR with the words Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results written underneath.

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 strategic and planning efforts. Please complete the CONTACT US form to receive more information about hosting a private course for your group.

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 the 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: Learning to SOAR and SOAR Design. Below are the dates and times for both workshops. Please note: Learning to SOAR is a pre-requisite for the SOAR Design workshop.

LEARNING TO SOAR Workshop

April 11-12, 2024

9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern

SOAR DESIGN Workshop

May 9, 2024

9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern

Pre-requisite: None

Pre-requisite: Learning 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 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.

We used SOAR to work with our global team members. The results: strategic direction and strategies for growth. Learning to SOAR: Creating Strategy that Inspires Innovation and Engagement has the proven research and applications to easily make SOAR part of your strategic toolkit.
– Ron Reidy, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Dell Technologies /Education Services

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 book is available in electronic or paperback versions. Please select the version that is in alignment with your learning style and preference.

METHOD OF DELIVERY:

This program will be delivered using Zoom and will be using various Zoom features, including the Zoom annotation tool. To maximize your learning experience and engagement, please participate in this course on your computer (desktop or laptop). 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 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:

SOAR Logo consists of the acronym SOAR with the words Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results written underneath.

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 strategic and planning efforts. Please complete the CONTACT US form to receive more information about hosting a private course for your group.

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

DEVELOP STRATEGY & ENGAGEMENT USING 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.

SOAR Framework stands for: Strengths - what are we best at? Opportunities: what are the possibilities? Aspirations: what are our dreams and wishes? and Results: what are meaningful and measurable results?

Utilize SOAR’s positive framework to enhance your ability to strategize, lead, and plan effectively.

SOAR WORKSHOP DATES & TIMES:

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

LEARNING TO SOAR Workshop

April 11-12, 2024

9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern

SOAR DESIGN Workshop

May 9, 2024

9am-12pm Pacific / 12pm-3pm Eastern

Pre-requisite: None

Pre-requisite: Learning to SOAR

LEARNING 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.

SOAR is a whole systems approach to strategic planning and invited inclusiveness and psychological safe space for us to learn. Jackie shared how her human operating system is Appreciative Inquiry (AI). I was able to galvanize leadership, engage all, and strengthen collaboration.
– Goren B. Dillard, MSOD, CASE, Urban League

LEARNING TO SOAR WORKSHOP CONTENT:

Learning 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 book is available in electronic or paperback versions. Please select the version that is in alignment with your learning style and preference.

METHOD OF DELIVERY:

This program will be delivered using Zoom and will be using various Zoom features, including the Zoom annotation tool. To maximize your learning experience and engagement, please participate in this course on your computer (desktop or laptop). 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 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:

SOAR Logo consists of the acronym SOAR with the words Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results written underneath.

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 strategic and planning efforts. Please complete the CONTACT US form to receive more information about hosting a private course for your group.

Monday Kickstarters Holiday Series

KICKSTART YOUR CONVERSATIONS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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 Holiday Series 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

MONDAY
December 2, 2024

MONDAY
December 9, 2024

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 Holiday Series is a 2-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 both 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 two (2) virtual 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 MONDAY KICKSTARTERS 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.

EVENT IS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH

One blue and one green conversation bubble overlapping with the letters CWH for Conversations Worth Having

Monday Kickstarters: Turn Challenges into Conversations Worth Having

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

MONDAY
September 9, 2024

MONDAY
September 16, 2024

MONDAY
September 23, 2024

MONDAY
September 30, 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 MONDAY KICKSTARTERS 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.

EVENT IS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH

One blue and one green conversation bubble overlapping with the letters CWH for Conversations Worth Having

Monday Kickstarters: Turn Challenges into Conversations Worth Having

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

MONDAY
March 4, 2024

MONDAY
March 11, 2024

MONDAY
March 18, 2024

MONDAY
March 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.

EVENT IS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH

One blue and one green conversation bubble overlapping with the letters CWH for Conversations Worth Having

Conversations Worth Having Trainer Certification

GET CERTIFIED TO TEACH CONVERSATIONS WORTH HAVING

Communication remains one of the top issues for employees in most organizations. Conversations Worth Having (CWH) certification gives you the ability to positively affect people’s lives by significantly improving communication within organizations. As a CWH trainer, you will have the tools and skills to offer both virtual and on-site Conversation Bootcamp trainings.

CWH CERTIFICATION DATES & TIMES:

Empower your future with the Conversations Worth Having trainer certification course. Attend Day 1 for certification in Conversations Worth Having and attend Days 1 and 2 to pursue dual certification in Conversations Worth Having and Strategic Conversations.

SINGLE CERTIFICATION

Conversations Worth Having (CWH) Certification

DUAL CERTIFICATION

Strategic Conversations Certification

Must Complete Day 1

Must Complete Days 1 and 2

DAY 1
Thursday, September 12, 2024

DAY 2

Friday, September 13, 2024

8:00am-2:00pm PDT

11:00am-5:00pm EDT

3:00pm-9:00pm GMT

8:00am-2:00pm PDT

11:00am-5:00pm EDT

3:00pm-9:00pm GMT

CWH TRAINER CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW

Conversations Worth Having Trainer Certification courses are intensive experiential learning opportunities that combine the theory, practice, and research of Appreciative Inquiry, positive psychology, and neuroscience to support the kind of communication that fuels productivity and meaningful engagement anytime, anywhere, and in any situation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Following the CWH certification course, participants will be prepared to:

  • Develop practical instructional design skills and confidence plus the critical skills to facilitate learning and ensure retention.
  • Use the Training Guidebook, card deck, and other materials to enhance the learning experience for participants.
  • Deliver portions of the training with coaching and feedback.
  • Become effective at using case studies, activities, exercises, videos, and slides to support participant learning.
  • Develop skills at having conversations that help yourself and others thrive and create environments that impact well-being.
  • Become skilled at turning conflict, challenges, and problems into conversations worth having.

CERTIFICATION OPTIONS

Participants have two CWH Certification options to choose from: CWH Certification and CWH Dual Certification. CWH Certifications endorse you to officially provide the Conversation Worth Having Bootcamp in part or whole.

Young professional man smiling and holding a coffee cup, in an online conversation worth having certification course

SINGLE CWH CERTIFICATION

Deepen your ability to foster conversations worth having, expand your creative thinking about how to use the materials, and work with others to design delivery of the materials to serve your clients, organization, or community.

Prerequisite: successful completion of the Conversation Bootcamp.

Duration: 1-day, 6-hour intensive training delivered virtually consisting of instruction and applied practice.

Smiling woman sitting at a table in a wheelchair learning on a laptop as she participates in the Conversations Worth Having Dual Certification course.

DUAL CWH CERTIFICATION

Develop your value as a leader by combining strategic thinking and planning with strategic conversations and work with others to design delivery of the materials to serve your clients, organization, and community.

Prerequisite: successful completion of the Conversation Bootcamp and Strategic Conversations Bootcamp.

Duration: 2-day intensive training delivered virtually; each day consists of 6 hours of instruction and applied practice.

REGISTRATION BENEFITS

Participants enrolled in CWH Trainer Certification courses will have everything they need to teach Conversations Worth Having and implement the bootcamps for which they are certified.

AS A PARTICIPANT:

Registration in the CWH Certification course includes:

  • Minimum of one-year (1) access to the latest online training materials.
  • CWH Training PowerPoint slides and agendas.
  • Participant workbook.
  • CWH Study Guide.
  • CWH WoJo.
  • CWH Bootcamp videos.
  • Case studies, stories, and activities.
  • Certificate of Completion template.
  • CWH marketing and promotional materials.
  • Ability to co-brand materials.
  • CWHConnect Calls: Community of Practice (connect, share, and learn among CWH trainers).
  • Consulting and training referrals.
AS A CERTIFIED CWH TRAINER:

In addition to the benefits listed above, certified CWH trainers will also enjoy:

  • A profile listing on the CWH Institute website.
  • Opportunity to work with the CWH Community in ways that may increase professional exposure, credibility, and residual income.
  • Opportunity to submit open trainings through The Center for Appreciative Inquiry and CWH Institute website.
  • A SOAR profile to help you better understand your natural capacity for strategic thinking, planning, and leading (available to participants enrolled in dual CWH certification for Strategic Conversations).

CERTIFICATION DESIGNED FOR

This certification course is designed for practitioners, trainers, and leaders driving positive change within organizations and communities, with teams, and with individuals, including:

• Managers and leaders.
• Training and development practitioners.
• Human resource professionals.
• Organization development professionals.

• Talent management practitioners.
• Coaches.
• Internal and external consultants.
• Teachers, school counselors, and principals.

METHOD OF DELIVERY

Conversations Worth Having Trainer Certification courses are delivered live and recorded 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 meeting login information from your trainers in two separate emails. The first email will be sent two weeks prior to the event; the second to be sent the day before the course begins.

CWH CERTIFICATION COURSE OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Conversations Worth Having logo consists of two speech bubbles overlapping one another with the acronym CWH written which stands for Conversations Worth Having.

Strategic Conversation Bootcamp

WHOLE SYSTEMS CHANGE WITH STRATEGIC CONVERSATIONS

A lack of strategic thinking and planning in organizations is costly. The greatest expense is the investment of time and resources into activities that do not support company goals or the mission. In addition, employees show up, do their work, and go home. This results in missed opportunities. Without a context for their work, employees are not inspired to think or plan creatively about process improvement, innovation, or cost savings. And anyone who has tried knows, it can be a struggle to get teams to buy-in to strategic goals, much less think and work in alignment with those goals.

BOOTCAMP DATES AND TIMES:

The Strategic Conversation Bootcamp consists of two virtual sessions with each session lasting 2.5 hours. Below are the dates and times of both bootcamp sessions.

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

TUESDAY
October 15, 2024

THURSDAY
October 17, 2024

9:00am-11:30am EDT

1:00pm-3:30pm GMT

2:00pm-4:30pm BST


9:00am-11:30am EDT

1:00pm-3:30pm GMT

2:00pm-4:30pm BST

Please note: ALL virtual sessions for the strategic conversation bootcamp will be recorded and saved for participants who are unable to attend a scheduled webinar. Links to the recordings will be provided so that participants can view/listen to the recording at a time that works best for them.

STRATEGIC CONVERSATION BOOTCAMP OVERVIEW:

Develop your capacity to foster whole system strategic planning, thinking, and leading with Strategic Conversations. Organizations poised for growth and success have leaders who are adopting strategic thinking as an on-going way of doing business and strategic planning that engages employees across the whole organization as well as external stakeholders. They engage everyone in developing agile plans, cycles of experimentation and learning, innovation, and measuring actions against relevant metrics.

Strategic Conversations Bootcamp will teach you how to incorporate two powerful methodologies – SOAR and the Appreciative Inquiry 5-D Cycle – to support and develop your capacity to have strategic conversations at the level of the individual, team, division, and the whole organization or community.

BOOTCAMP MODULES

The Strategic Conversation Bootcamp consists of four (4) modules. Click on any of the module titles below to display the purpose and learning objectives for each session.

VALUING STRATEGIC THINKING

PURPOSE: Appreciate the value of strategic thinking and adopt an appreciative framework for strategic conversations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Practice framing and asking generative questions for simple strategic conversations.
• Recognize the 3 key factors of strategic conversations and the basic principles for leading them.
• Adopt an Appreciative Inquiry framework for strategic thinking.
• Understand the importance of strategic conversations and the role generative questions and positive framing play.

FOSTERING SOAR CONVERSATIONS

PURPOSE: Learn how to use SOAR to frame strategic conversations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Understand the SOAR Framework for strategic thinking.
• Experience SOAR as a positive approach for strategic conversations.
• Practice positive framing and generative questions using SOAR at various levels in the organization.

THE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY 5-D CYCLE

PURPOSE: Entertain strategic conversations at scale, e.g., strategic planning or whole system change, using the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) 5-D Cycle.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Learn how you engage whole systems in strategic conversations.
• Use two AI practices (positive framing & generative questions) to frame a topic and craft an inquiry.
• Identify opportunities to facilitate whole system conversations.

STRATEGIC AREA FOR APPLICATION

PURPOSE: Build capacity for practical application of SOAR and the Appreciative Inquiry 5-D Cycle.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Deepen your capacity to foster strategic conversations.
• Design and share a prototype for a strategic conversation.
• Practice giving and receiving feedforward.

BOOTCAMP OUTCOMES

This bootcamp will prepare you to engage your teams in strategic conversations that can:

  • Increase productivity, engagements, and organizational effectiveness;
  • Reduce costs, misalignment, and conflicts;
  • Improve customer service levels;
  • Innovate in the face of challenges;
  • Make a positive contribution to the bottom line.

Using two very powerful methodologies (SOAR and the Appreciative Inquiry 5-D Cycle), you will have the tools to engage teams from a whole system perspective in conversations to:

  • Address short- and long-term challenges, systems, and innovation;
  • Explore strengths, dynamic capabilities, and opportunities;
  • Develop or re-evaluate organization’s values, vision, and mission statements;
  • Set goals, objectives, strategies, and action plans;
  • Clarify roles, relationships, and expectations;
  • Track progress through regular cycles of action learning.

ADDITIONAL BOOTCAMP INFORMATION

METHOD OF DELIVERY

These live events will be delivered and recorded 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 meeting login information from your trainers in two separate emails. First email will be sent two weeks prior to the event; the second to be sent the day before the bootcamp.

We invite you to learn more about the CONVERSATIONS BOOTCAMP also offered in partnership with Conversations Worth Having.

SUGGESTED READING

This book demonstrates how Appreciative Inquiry (AI) – one of the most widely used approaches for fostering positive change for individuals, groups, organizations, and communities – can help everyone communicate better and flourish in all areas of their lives.

Book Cover for Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement (2nd edition) by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres. The cover consists of red, blue, green, and yellow speech bubbles.

BOOTCAMP OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Conversations Worth Having logo consists of two speech bubbles overlapping one another with the acronym CWH written which stands for Conversations Worth Having.

Conversation Bootcamp

FUEL PRODUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT

Conversations are at the heart of everything we do and are essential to effective communications, leadership, high performing teams, and strong relationships. We know that conversations influence us, but we rarely stop to think about how much they affect our well-being, the well-being of others, or the health of our organizations and communities.

Communication remains the top issue for organizations, teams, and relationships. Most people struggle to effectively communicate when they are frustrated, angry, hurt, or facing conflict. The effects of poor communication are costly and show up in organizations as:

  • Employee disengagement, malaise, and turnover;
  • Dysfunctional teams;
  • Poor performance;
  • Inability to give and receive critical feedback;
  • Negative attitudes, cliques, and gossip: a culture of “me”.

If you’re dealing with any of these outcomes, the Conversation Bootcamp from Conversations Worth Having will give you the skills and tools to turn them around. This program is grounded in Appreciative Inquiry, one of the most widely used positive change approaches. Two simple Appreciative Inquiry practices can turn your entire culture around, creating a culture of conversations worth having.

BOOTCAMP DATES AND TIMES:

The Conversation Bootcamp consists of two virtual sessions with each session lasting 2.5 hours. Below are the dates and times of both bootcamp sessions.

SESSION 1

SESSION 2

TUESDAY
October 8, 2024

THURSDAY
October 10, 2024

9:00am-11:30am EDT

1:00pm-3:30pm GMT

2:00pm-4:30pm BST

9:00am-11:30am EDT

1:00pm-3:30pm GMT

2:00pm-4:30pm BST

Please note: ALL virtual sessions for this conversation bootcamp will be recorded and saved for participants who are unable to attend a scheduled webinar. Links to the recordings will be provided so that participants can view/listen to the recording at a time that works best for them.

CONVERSATION BOOTCAMP OVERVIEW:

The Conversation Bootcamp is grounded in Appreciative Inquiry, one of the most widely used positive change approaches. Two simple Appreciative Inquiry practices – positive framing and generative questions – can turn your entire culture around, creating a culture of conversations worth having. Get the tools needed to help you establish communication practices that support productivity, engagement, high performance teams, regular feedback, positivity, and a culture of “we.”

BOOTCAMP MODULES

The Conversation Bootcamp consists of four (4) modules. Click on any of the module titles below to display the purpose and learning objectives for each session.

THE POWER OF CONVERSATION

PURPOSE: Understand the nature of our conversations, how they affect human being and doing, and develop your ability to choose.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Choose to be intentional with your conversations.
• Experience the nature of your conversations and the effects they have on you and others.
• Use mindfulness tools to shift reactionary communication to deliberate conversation.

THE ART OF ASKING QUESTIONS

PURPOSE: Understand the basics of Appreciative Inquiry and improve your ability to ask generative questions to foster effective communication.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Choose curiosity over knowing and assuming.
• Experience the impact Appreciative Inquiry has on individual and organizational capacity.
• Use generative questions to shift the dynamics of personal and workplace communication problems.

INTENTIONAL FRAMING

PURPOSE: Use positive framing to intentionally foster effective communication and continue to develop your ability to ask generative questions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Use flipping to frame workplace communication issues.
• Experience flipping negative conversations to conversations worth having.
• Develop generative questions to fuel productive and meaningful engagement around workplace challenges.

STEP UP TO FEEDBACK

PURPOSE: Develop the skill and the motivation to routinely seek out feedback and promptly provide effective feedback, even in the most critical of situations

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Adopt a learning mindset to support openness and interest in feedback.
• Experience and choose to change feedback avoidance patterns.
• Use effective feedback strategies with common workplace situations.

BOOTCAMP OUTCOMES

Following this bootcamp, participants will be prepared to:

  • Keep your cool when you want to explode!
  • Effectively challenge assumptions and preconceptions, including yours.
  • Deal with conflict quickly and effectively.
  • Fuel productive and meaningful engagement.
  • Communicate successfully with people who hold negative attitudes or defensive positions.
  • Give and receive critical feedback in ways that promote learning and high performance.
  • Ask the kind of questions that deepen understanding, strengthen connections, and inspire possibility.
  • Talk with colleagues in ways that invite them to collaborate on projects and strategic outcomes.
  • Listen with genuine curiosity.
  • Frame any conversation, even one around a highly complex problem, to inspire creative and innovative thinking and solutions.

ADDITIONAL BOOTCAMP INFORMATION

METHOD OF DELIVERY

These live events will be delivered and recorded 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 meeting login information from your trainers in two separate emails. First email will be sent two weeks prior to the event; the second to be sent the day before the bootcamp.

We invite you to learn more about the STRATEGIC CONVERSATION BOOTCAMP also offered in partnership with Conversations Worth Having.

SUGGESTED READING

This book demonstrates how Appreciative Inquiry (AI) – one of the most widely used approaches for fostering positive change for individuals, groups, organizations, and communities – can help everyone communicate better and flourish in all areas of their lives.

Book Cover for Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement (2nd edition) by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres. The cover consists of red, blue, green, and yellow speech bubbles.

BOOTCAMP OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Conversations Worth Having logo consists of two speech bubbles overlapping one another with the acronym CWH written which stands for Conversations Worth Having.

Resilience Reset

HONE YOUR RESILIENCE PRACTICE WITH APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Being resilient is about practicing in the every-day of our lives and work; it is not a place we get to arrive at nor a place where we can permanently reside. Resiliency does not make us immune to life’s challenges. Rather, it lets us venture and evolve using all of our strengths in the most challenging of times.

Resilience Reset is an opportunity to focus on the strengths we bring to creating an appreciative resilience practice. Grounded in Appreciative Inquiry, appreciative resilience is a powerful practice that explores how leaders can cultivate hope, uplift strengths in times of despair, and foster forgiveness as part of their resilience practice.

EVENT DATES AND TIMES:

RESILIENCE RESET OVERVIEW:

Resilience Reset is a 3-part virtual series designed to help leaders dwell in what is happening at this moment in history and find ways to sustain themselves and their organizations. Join Joan McArthur-Blair and Jeanie Cockell for a highly interactive conversation about resilience in our complex world. During these sessions, Jeanie and Joan will curate topics from their resilience work and invite topics from participants. Brief descriptions for each session are listed below.

SESSION 1: RESILIENCE AS A PRACTICE

Participants will engage in a dynamic conversation about the ways in which they can amplify and uplift their strengths in challenging times. This session:

  • Introduces the appreciative resilience model.
  • Provides an overview of appreciative inquiry.
  • Focuses on how we can practice appreciative resilience in times of despair.
SESSION 2: UPLIFTING STRENGTHS

A powerful conversation on how hope is the cornerstone of an appreciative resilience practice. This session:

  • Provides a short overview of the appreciative resilience model.
  • Hones in on the practice of hope in the everyday of resilience.
SESSION 3: ALTERING OUR GAZE

A deeply crafted conversation on the role of forgiveness in appreciative resilience. In this last session, participants will:

  • Quickly review appreciative inquiry and the appreciative resilience model.
  • Delve into how a deep practice of forgiveness plays an essential part in building resilience.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

METHOD OF DELIVERY

These live conversations will be delivered using Zoom. You will receive the Zoom meeting information upon registration. It will be listed in your confirmation email. To optimize your learning experience, we highly recommend participating in this course using a laptop or desktop computer.

SUGGESTED READING

This virtual series is built upon the book, Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness (2018) written by Joan McArthur-Blair and Jeanie Cockell.

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a widely used change approach that emphasizes identifying what’s working well in a system. Leaders can use AI to increase their ability to weather the storms they’ll inevitably encounter and be resilient. A profound guide, this book features personal accounts from leaders across a variety of settings describing how they’ve practiced appreciative resilience in the ongoing cycle of hope, despair, and forgiveness.

Book Cover for the Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness by Joan McArthur-Blair and Jeanie Cockell.

OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Logo for Cockell McArthur-Blair Consulting - authors of Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness.