International Journal of Appreciative Inquiry

Menu

Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category

Call for Articles

Call for Articles: Regenerative Business: Strengths-Based Approaches to Building a Better World

To be published in AI Practitioner, November 2025

Download Call for Articles

Topic: Regenerative Business

Articles should advance the idea of Regenerative Business as an approach to business….

that develops market-based solutions

which restore, repair and revitalize our social and natural systems,

and generate both short and long-term value for all stakeholders involved

by using collaborative networks to transform the business ecosystems they operate in.

Proposal Deadline: March 16, 2025

Proposal Length : 250 word approximately

For more info to help you submit your proposal, please email the editors for this special issue:

BERNARD MOHR bernard@cocreatingmutualvalue.org

SUSAN DONNAN susan@cocreatingmutualvalue.org

Please contact us – we want to answer your questions!!

Important Deadlines:

March 16, 2025: Proposal or Overview/Outline of Contribution

May 15, 2017: First Draft Due

July 15, 2018: Final Article Due

September 1: Final versions to Shelagh

October 1: Draft version to contributors for final corrections

November 1: Publication

Valencia Students Into Random Acts of Listening

Cees Hoogendijk

www.ceeshoogendijk.com

mail@ceeshoogendijk.nl

 

 

Download Article

I was happily invited, for a second time, as sometime-professor at the University of Valencia to work with students in the Erasmus program “European Master in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP-P) 2024” for the course Intervention in Organizations, Organizational Change and Development (see photo). My three-day lecture is about contemporary methods of organizational change and development: Appreciative Inquiry interventions.

This LinkedIn post by Bishal Sala gives an impression of how it went. AI, of course, is the perfect practice for a process of “learning by doing”. We designed our own AI-summit on the self-chosen – and essential – topic of Work-Life-Balance.

Fast forward to the individual assignment I created, inspired by Nick Heap and Random Acts of Listening initiative, which turned out to be a great success, highly rewarding for both teacher and students.

Charikleia Georgaki

Appreciative Inquiry Reflection with a Stranger

Dear Professor,

Before everything, I would like to thank you for this beautiful and outside-the-box individual assignment. I was initially skeptical about it, especially given my past less-than-positive experiences in Spain with strangers. Last year, I struggled to communicate in Spanish, which often led to a not-so-positive attitude toward me, despite my efforts to be polite. However, Arthur was an amazing person, and I am so happy I had the opportunity to talk with him. He is Irish, so he spoke English fluently, which maybe didn’t help me in communicating with a local person, but that facilitated our conversation.

Planning the assignment

Today, October 20th, 2024, I decided to visit a friend who runs a lab for creating Halloween mugs from clay near Rusafa, Valencia, which meant that I arrived late for class, which was full, and had to wait for approximately 40 minutes outside. While waiting, I found a comfortable table and opened my laptop to check on this assignment. I created a plan for my questions centered around appreciation in life, eager to discover what people value. My approach was based on Appreciative Inquiry and the five-step model of Define, Discover, Dream, Design and Deliver.

Initially, my plan was to find a student the next day at the university to conduct the interview with, as I felt psychologically unprepared to talk to a total stranger outside the university space due to language barriers.

During the wait a dog approached me, followed by a middle-aged gentleman. After a brief chat with my friend, who was facilitating the activities, he told me in English that he thought he needed to wait as well. He commented to me, “At least you have your laptop” and laughed. We engaged in a small conversation, discovering our shared appreciation for art and creation, despite our hesitance to pursue it ourselves. I also shared that I had prepared some general questions for an interview. In that moment, I felt brave and social, and I stepped out of my comfort zone when I suggested we conduct the interview together.

After considering my proposal, he initially seemed a bit stressed about taking a photo but ultimately agreed. He confided that his wife had asked for a divorce the previous day, which made him anxious. I clarified that if he wasn’t feeling up to it, we could wait for the class and forget about the interview idea, but he insisted on proceeding. He asked to start with a selfie to help him not dwell on the situation, and I happily agreed.

A peaceful state of mind

We began with the general question: “What does appreciation mean to you?” He replied, “Appreciation is to be thankful and to appreciate the things around you.” I then asked what he appreciated the most, and he said that it was a peaceful state of mind, noting that this requires financial stability, love from family and friends, and affection from a partner. Wanting to dive deeper and facilitate the conversation, I prompted him to consider smaller actions or specific events that he appreciates.

He mentioned his dog, Iris, (who I had already met) and his open-minded siblings, who were supporting him during this difficult time. Sensing he was becoming emotional about the divorce, I shifted the topic and asked what he appreciated in his job. He initially replied that he was jobless, but then clarified that he is self-employed, travels around the world, and works from anywhere. He noted, “I appreciate that I can travel around the world”, but also remarked that while he enjoys travelling, he feels that money mostly brings material things rather than meaningful experiences.

What has made you smile?

I then applied the model steps, starting with a first question (with intentions to define): “What has made you smile today?” After a moment’s thought, I followed up with “What makes you happy lately?” He mentioned his dog and reflected on how he had been struggling to smile since his wife had said she wanted to divorce him. I pointed out that he had smiled in the second photo we took during (he asked me to delete the first one, so I did) and during some parts of our conversation, which he said he hadn’t realised.

Next, I asked him to envision his ideal future in order to discover the desired future and dream the ideal one. He described wanting to find companionship, whether as a friend or partner, without necessarily seeking marriage. I inquired about how he thought this could happen. He expressed scepticism, stating that he needed to be more open to getting to know people and to move on from what had ended. He mentioned he was okay with not having children, since he has his dog, but wanted someone to spend time with.

Valencia Students Into Random Acts of Listening

Cees Hoogendijk

www.ceeshoogendijk.com

mail@ceeshoogendijk.nl

 

 

Download Article

I was happily invited, for a second time, as sometime-professor at the University of Valencia to work with students in the Erasmus program “European Master in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP-P) 2024” for the course Intervention in Organizations, Organizational Change and Development (see photo). My three-day lecture is about contemporary methods of organizational change and development: Appreciative Inquiry interventions.

This LinkedIn post by Bishal Sala gives an impression of how it went. AI, of course, is the perfect practice for a process of “learning by doing”. We designed our own AI-summit on the self-chosen – and essential – topic of Work-Life-Balance.

Fast forward to the individual assignment I created, inspired by Nick Heap and Random Acts of Listening initiative, which turned out to be a great success, highly rewarding for both teacher and students.

Vasiliki Salvanou

Preparation

Since I was going to Turia Park, my goal was to choose someone who seemed approachable. I wanted to focus on strengths, successes and possibilities through my questions, rather than on problems.

Possible questions for an appreciative inquiry

1.“Hi, I’m a master’s student of organizational psychology in university of Valencia, and I’m doing a project on how people create and try to maintain positive changes in their lives. Would you mind if I ask you a couple of questions about this topic?”

2. Life moment “When you felt you were at your best? Was it special for you?”

3. Specific experience “How did your strengths shape your experience?”

4. Future goal “What’s something positive you hope to achieve in the future? What will help you get there?”

5. General “How could you focus more on positive outcomes rather than on obstacles?”

After the conversation

Before going to Turia Park, I felt both curious and hesitant.

I felt uncomfortable asking if I could take a picture because it seemed a bit intrusive. By focusing on creating a respectful and meaningful exchange, I chose to prioritize the connection over the photo, which allowed the conversation to flow more naturally and authentically.

My overall impression of the conversation was as follows: I introduced myself and described my project to a person seated on a bench. The stranger was open to talking, so we talked about a time when she felt most herself. We started a conversation about her strengths with her sharing a story of her own personal development. Generally, the conversation had a smooth and upbeat flow. Even though I was a bit anxious, it was simple to keep going because of the emphasis on advantages and positive elements.

From this experience I took away the importance of posing inquiries that prompt individuals to consider the positive parts of their lives. The talk flowed more naturally than I had expected, and it felt more like an interaction than an interview. Plus,I found out, it’s also not too difficult to strike up a (positive) conversation with a random girl at Turia Park.

Valencia Students Into Random Acts of Listening

Cees Hoogendijk

www.ceeshoogendijk.com

mail@ceeshoogendijk.nl

 

 

Download Article

I was happily invited, for a second time, as sometime-professor at the University of Valencia to work with students in the Erasmus program “European Master in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP-P) 2024” for the course Intervention in Organizations, Organizational Change and Development (see photo). My three-day lecture is about contemporary methods of organizational change and development: Appreciative Inquiry interventions.

This LinkedIn post by Bishal Sala gives an impression of how it went. AI, of course, is the perfect practice for a process of “learning by doing”. We designed our own AI-summit on the self-chosen – and essential – topic of Work-Life-Balance.

Fast forward to the individual assignment I created, inspired by Nick Heap and Random Acts of Listening initiative, which turned out to be a great success, highly rewarding for both teacher and students.

Bishal Saha

Inspired by Random Acts of Listening, I wanted to connect with someone entirely different from myself – a true “unusual suspect”. I headed to a nearby park, a serene setting where people often find quiet moments with nature. I noticed an elderly lady, likely in her seventies, walking gently with her small dog. She had an air of calm that captivated me. I decided to approach her. My goal was to engage in an Appreciative Inquiry conversation that would encourage her to share meaningful life experiences, aiming to uncover the insights and wisdom she might offer.

Before speaking to her, I prepared questions that might elicit rich reflections, including:

• “What’s something you’re grateful for at this stage of your life?”

• “What has been a defining lesson or value that you try to live by?”

• “If you could share a piece of wisdom with someone younger, what would it be?”

These questions were designed to create a safe, open space for conversation, allowing her to share insights from her life experience.

The conversation

After gathering the courage, I approached her with a smile and introduced myself, explaining that I was doing a project that involved talking to someone with different life experiences. She smiled and introduced herself as Elaine, introducing me to her dog, Max. Her warmth made it easy to begin, and we started strolling together through the park.

I started by asking, “Elaine, I’d love to hear about something you’re grateful for at this stage of life.” She paused for a moment, watching Max sniff around the grass, and then responded, “I’m grateful for simple joys, like these quiet walks with Max. They’re small moments, but they give me peace and remind me to be present.”

Encouraged by her openness, I asked, “How did you come to appreciate these small moments?” Elaine laughed softly and shared that, as a young mother juggling work, family and household responsibilities, she had rarely had time to slow down. “Back then, I was always running,” she said. “But I learned that life is richer when you stop and appreciate what you already have.” Her words struck a chord, a reminder of the importance of slowing down amidst life’s busyness.

No day is ever wasted

Next, I asked, “Is there a piece of wisdom or life philosophy that has guided you over the years?” Elaine nodded thoughtfully and shared a beautiful piece of advice: “No day is ever wasted if you have loved someone, felt joy, or learned something new”. She explained that this was a principle she’d held close throughout her life, even during hard times, like when she lost her husband a few years ago. “It’s not about achieving something big every day,” she said, “but finding beauty in the little things that make life meaningful.” Her words were profound, revealing her deep appreciation for life’s fleeting moments and connections.

Curious to understand her perspective on relationships, I followed up by asking, “How did kindness and compassion play a role in your relationships?” Elaine’s face softened as she talked about her marriage, her children and, now, her grandchildren. “I’ve always believed in treating people with kindness, even when they’ve hurt you,” she said. “It keeps you at peace with yourself and, I think, in the end it’s what people remember about you.”

At this point, I noticed how Max would look up at her with what seemed like admiration, and I could see how Elaine’s calm presence must have brought comfort to many people in her life. I was moved by her selfless approach to relationships, and her words made me reflect on the importance of kindness in my interactions.

Reflection and learning

After the conversation, I sat on a nearby bench to jot down my thoughts, surprised at how Elaine’s wisdom had affected me. Her life philosophy and simple joys offered a fresh perspective on happiness and contentment. I realized that true fulfillment doesn’t necessarily come from major achievements, but often from small, everyday moments we sometimes overlook. Her statement, “No day is ever wasted if you loved someone, felt joy or learned something new,” has stayed with me as a powerful reminder to seek out joy and learning each day.

This conversation taught me the importance of being present and appreciating life’s little pleasures – a lesson I might not have learned so profoundly if I hadn’t engaged in this appreciative inquiry. Elaine’s openness and willingness to share her experiences as a stranger highlighted the strength of empathetic listening and the connection it fosters, even in brief exchanges.

Conclusion

This exercise was both challenging and rewarding, as it pushed me out of my comfort zone and connected me to someone from a different generation with insights far beyond my own. Through Appreciative Inquiry, I gained a deeper appreciation for the wisdom that comes from lived experience, and I left the park that day with a renewed outlook on life’s small, joyful moments. Elaine’s wisdom on kindness, presence, and love enriched my understanding, and I hope to carry forward her lesson: to slow down, cherish small joys, and make time for meaningful interactions.

Valencia Students Into Random Acts of Listening

Cees Hoogendijk

www.ceeshoogendijk.com

mail@ceeshoogendijk.nl

 

 

Download Article

I was happily invited, for a second time, as sometime-professor at the University of Valencia to work with students in the Erasmus program “European Master in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOP-P) 2024” for the course Intervention in Organizations, Organizational Change and Development (see photo). My three-day lecture is about contemporary methods of organizational change and development: Appreciative Inquiry interventions.

This LinkedIn post by Bishal Sala gives an impression of how it went. AI, of course, is the perfect practice for a process of “learning by doing”. We designed our own AI-summit on the self-chosen – and essential – topic of Work-Life-Balance.

Fast forward to the individual assignment I created, inspired by Nick Heap and Random Acts of Listening initiative, which turned out to be a great success, highly rewarding for both teacher and students.

Appreciate Inquiry Reflection with a Stranger

Rhens Rio Emil D. Guevarra

One Friday evening at the park while I was reflecting on “the week that was” after school, I overheard a man who seemed to be speaking Latin American Spanish. He also seemed so different to me. I was intrigued. I like to wear earthy, pastel colours, while he was all in black. I approached him and asked if I could ask a few questions for a project. I told him “it’s going to be a quick conversation about life”. He agreed.

We began with the question “what moment in your life you have felt most alive?”. He smiled, but seemed so stunned by the question. What we agreed would be a quick conversation turned out to be an hour of appreciation about life. As we spoke, I learned more about this stranger’s passion for kickboxing and how it helps him cope with life. He described his love for his friends back in Honduras. His longing for his mom’s cooking. How music keeps him alive.

Then he talked about the challenges of living in Spain. He shared how, day by day, despite his effort to keep friendships going, he is starting to lose contact with some of his friends back home. But life goes on. He has started meeting new people and building a life here. We realized how when one moves to a different place, so much of ourselves changes.

What started as a simple inquiry turned into a conversation about hope, and this is the part that really got me emotional. Both of us are students in Spain. Next year, we are graduating from our Master’s programs. Ramon (him) and I, despite missing home, prefer to stay in Spain. It’s not so easy for people like us. But there is always hope. And it is up to us to design the life we want. This was a difficult conversation, but something I needed at that very moment. The past few weeks, I’ve started to feel anxious about my future and it was comforting to have this conversation with a stranger.

You see, at first, Ramon was so different to me. I am soft-spoken and he was “a bit of force”, I would say. We have different hobbies, are from different cultures. But deep within, we are not so different. Such experience is a beautiful reminder of the interconnectedness of the human life, no matter where we come from. For an hour, we turned from strangers into, well, strangers who happened to know more about each other’s lives. Maybe we can become friends in the future if we hang out together more. We exchanged Instagrams and told each other we’d go out for a coffee sometime.

As I left the park that evening, I reflected on how every conversation has the potential to energize us, even when shared with a stranger. I found myself wondering: what if I make this a more regular practice? Instead of spending hours scrolling through social media, what if I engage in conversations with people at the gym or in my community? If social media often feels superficial, then these genuine interactions could be the true social energizers we crave.

Table 1. Questions I prepared to set the structure but I kept the conversation fluid and flexible.

Section

Questions

Energizing Question

What are the moments in your life where you felt most alive and fulfilled?

Define

What core values or passions define who you are and what you want to achieve?

Discovery (What gives life?)

What experiences or activities make you feel energized and connected?

Dream (What might be?)

What dreams or aspirations are you most excited about pursuing?

Design (What should be?)

What would need to change or grow in your life to make your dreams a reality?

Destiny (What will be?)

What small actions could you take now that align with your dreams?

Appreciative Resources

Practical Appreciative Inquiry: How to Use This Leading-Edge Coaching Method Confidently with Teams and Small Groups

Keith Storace is a registered psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) and an associate fellow with the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM). He manages a private practice at Kiku Imagination where he applies the Appreciative Dialogue (ApDi) therapy program to assist individuals move toward, strengthen and enjoy what is meaningful while dealing with the challenges they encounter along the way.

Andy Smith

ISBN 9798854405621

Publisher: Coaching Leaders

Available from the website Coaching Leaders

Download Article

Practical Appreciative Inquiry: How to Use This Leading-Edge Coaching Method Confidently with Teams and Small Groups by Andy Smith draws on the pioneering work of David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva. They developed Appreciative Inquiry (AI) at Case Western Reserve University in the 1980s. Their shift from deficit-based analysis to an approach that focuses on strengths marked a pivotal moment in organisational development. This method moved away from identifying problems to spotlighting the positive core of individuals, teams and organisations. Building on this foundation, the author offers a practical, nuanced guide designed to empower leaders, coaches and facilitators to foster meaningful change.

Practical tools for real-world application

The book is a thoughtfully written guide that offers an enriching approach to fostering change. Through a clear lens of positive inquiry, it invites coaches, facilitators and leaders to explore new possibilities beyond traditional problem-solving methods. The emphasis on focusing on strengths over shortcomings reflects the essence of AI – a refreshing shift in perspective – cultivating environments where creativity thrives and teams find renewed energy. Shifting away from a deficit-based approach, this work emphasises that real transformation is possible when we focus on what works.

The author’s approach moves the reader beyond academic abstractions to present a structured, hands-on approach. The detailed breakdown of the 5D cycle that drives AI – Definition, Discovery, Dream, Design and Delivery – guides readers through each phase, ensuring they can apply these insights with confidence. Real-world examples breathe life into these stages, making the theory accessible and immediately applicable, particularly in team settings.

The neuroscience of positive inquiry

A notably distinctive contribution to understanding the effectiveness of AI is the explanation of how neuroscience adds depth, linking the activation of the brain’s empathic network with the positive emotions generated through AI. This connection not only emphasises the practical benefits of AI but also offers a compelling rationale for its effectiveness in creating collaborative, high-trust cultures. By grounding ideas in research about how positive emotions affect the brain, the book offers unique reasoning for the effectiveness of focusing on strengths. This is not just a feel-good approach; it aligns with how our minds work best, and the discussion of neuroscience never feels heavy-handed. An entire chapter is devoted to neuroscience and AI, clearly explaining that when positivity and curiosity are cultivated, parts of ourselves – and our organisations – that might otherwise remain dormant can be unlocked.

Overcoming resistance and facilitating change

The author acknowledges the varied contexts in which AI can be applied, offering pathways for both large-scale change and intimate coaching sessions. This versatility ensures that readers, regardless of their experience level, can find valuable strategies to enhance their practice.

Addressing scepticism, the book takes a pragmatic approach for those encountering resistance to AI. Framing discussions around tangible benefits helps make a persuasive case for the strengths-based approach, while advice on integrating AI incrementally shows an understanding of organisational dynamics, where gradual shifts often prove more sustainable.

A philosophy grounded in stories and strengths

The writing transcends the procedural, breathing life into the process of change with a focus on human stories and their power to reshape perspectives. Stories are more than just anecdotes; they are the fabric through which an organisation’s values and aspirations are woven. In generating stories of success and peak experiences, leaders can build a more resilient culture, one that is grounded in a shared vision of what is possible. Guidance on how to facilitate these conversations, how to listen deeply, and how to create space for new stories to emerge adds a rich layer to the process of AI.

There is a keen awareness that every organisation holds a reservoir of untapped potential, hidden beneath the daily grind of deadlines and targets. This potential is best uncovered not by zeroing in on faults, but by shining a light on those moments when people and teams are at their best – a theme revisited throughout the book. It’s in this space that fertile ground for growth is found, where a simple shift in focus can change the narrative of an entire organisation.

Rather than merely offering a toolbox for change, the narrative is as much about philosophy as it is about practice. The approach is nuanced, aware that the terrain of organisational change is often complex. Challenges are not shied away from; instead, they are met with a blend of practicality and compassion, offering insights into how even the most hesitant participants can find their place in the process. The tone is never prescriptive; it is invitational, drawing readers into a world where transformation is less about fixing what is broken and more about nurturing what already thrives.

Realising potential through shifts in perspective

Practical Appreciative Inquiry makes change feel possible, even in the most entrenched environments. It captures the magic that occurs when teams begin to see themselves through a new lens – one that highlights their achievements, strengths and capacity for growth. This shift in perspective doesn’t just change outcomes; it changes how people relate to their work and to each other, fostering a sense of connection that goes beyond the typical transactional nature of organisational life.

Ultimately, Practical Appreciative Inquiry is as much about fostering a mindset as it is about implementing a methodology. The narrative helps facilitate this through its inspiring and realistic approach, reminding readers that small shifts in perspective can lead to profound changes over time. The insights offered remind us that by focusing on the best in people, we not only enrich their experience but also unlock potential that drives meaningful change.

We are invited to see beyond limitations, finding a pathway where collective vision and strengths lead the way, and how a shift in focus might bring about deeper, more lasting change. It’s a vision that reminds us of the potential for growth that often lies just beneath the surface, waiting for someone to notice. By guiding readers through this journey of noticing, the author has crafted a book that is as enlightening as it is practical – one that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who is committed to positive change.

Micropractices

Here are our favourite “micropractices” of appreciation or inquiry. These are things that anyone can use naturally in everyday interactions, and they deserve spreading!

Nick Heap

Download Article

Of appreciation

 

 

 

 

Give genuine recognition or a sincere compliment to someone for their efforts, such as, “You handled that situation ABC very well” (be specific). Then ask, “How did you manage to do that?” Then listen actively for their answer (repeat via rephrasing, verify understanding, while being gentle at all times).

I ensure that I recognise people who exist, be they homeless people, street cleaners, counter assistants, etc., and where possible, when receiving invoices, etc., I brush people’s hands as they appreciate this.

I say, “You look great! Where did you get these great styling ideas from?”

I travel a lot, so I say thank you to the drivers who take me to my destination. Saying “thank you” to a bus driver, colleagues, friends, and people you interact with is a way of showing appreciation for every little thing.

If someone expresses something positive about how they experience me, e.g., a co-volunteer on a mental health swim appreciated how I engage with anxious participants, I thank them for their offering rather than downplaying it by ignoring or rejecting it.

Saying “I appreciate you” instead of “I appreciate that” when someone does something, like hold a door open.

Smile and mouth the word thank you for all the service workers you encounter in every store.

So, I try to indicate that someone has done something that deserves appreciative recognition by saying something like: “I like/d how you did ‘that’, with a reason … “it was considerate, well thought through,” etc. I also try to avoid simplistic cliches such as “Well done.” I say, “You did that well.” I ensure that I use the word “you” or their name.

The namaste greeting means “I honour you” and “I see the divine in you”. (This is an oversimplified explanation of a centuries-old practice.)

The Zulu greeting Sawubona (I see you) is about truly seeing and recognising the other person for who they are – their emotions, their being, their worth. It’s a way of showing respect, presence, and attentiveness. When someone responds with Ngikhona (I am here), it shows that the person feels validated and recognised as an individual.

When someone appreciates me, I say, “Thank you for noticing”.

When someone smiles at you, smile back and say, “Thank you for your smile!”

Of inquiry

Ask people, “What’s the best thing that happened today?”

I love this question on an embroidery I recently saw at an artist shop in Bayfield, Wisconsin: “What’s the Best…That Could Happen?

In the safety world, debriefing after a completed job is important for learning. Appreciative inquiry questions include:

– What positive things did we do?

– What unexpectedly happened that contributed to the job’s success?

– What went well?

In your family, group or organisation when you have had a great day say “We’ve had a great day! How can we have more days that are as good as this?

When someone is excellent at something, ask them, “What is your secret?” (My father was a superb primary school teacher. His secret was to “Love children and make the lessons interesting”.)

Other

Combining happy hour on my back porch with gratitude practice.

I work in the hospitality industry, and it is friendly to try to greet our regular guests by name. For the new ones, I always try to find out their names too. By so doing, our guests feel a sense of belonging and are willing to advise us on issues that may need our attention. Our welcome ensures they make our facility their number-one choice, are loyal to the brand, and recommend us to others.

When I took a certification course taught by David Cooperrider, he shared stories of using AI on his kids when they were young. He would ask one sibling what they appreciated about the other’s performance (such as at a ball game). He said that this was how AI started, well before he wrote the book. That story has stayed with me for 15 years. Now, I incorporate curiosity into many of my discussions with people.

It’s a small thing, but I’ve worked to change my language around common sayings. For example, why do we always assume the negative and say, “Don’t forget?” Let’s focus on what we want and say, “Remember!” It’s small, subtle and powerful.

A practice I apply in talking to others is that whenever they diminish the value of what they do, I challenge them to consider whether anyone would have done the same. By doing so, they become aware of the actual value of their actions.

Every person gets my full attention. They’re not competing with something else or someone else.

Conclusion

There must be many more small natural things we can do daily to move our lives and culture towards celebrating and growing good things. We know that what we appreciate flourishes and that systems move forward when we ask positive questions. Let’s do more of both.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank all the contributors to this article for their wisdom and for taking the time to share it.

Invitation to Contribute to the November 2024

AI Practitioner issue on “Naturalising AI” 

Download Invitation.

How can we make Appreciating and Inquiring as Natural as Breathing, the way it was when we were infants? 

I am Nick Heap, Guest Editor of the issue. I am looking for stories, ideas, practices, tools, reflections, poems, questions – or things I haven’t considered. There might be ways you have used Appreciative Inquiry without calling it “AI” or using jargon. There could be things you did that were consistent with the theory and practice before you knew about AI. Or they might be future possibilities, as well as concrete experience. 

It would be ideal to have contributions written in plain language. You can write something immediately or send me a summary or outline of what you would like to say. It’s up to you. 

Why is “Naturalising AI” important? 

Appreciative Inquiry is a powerful, optimistic, and satisfying way to get good things to happen. It deserves to be widely known and used. It is easy to grasp, but looking for what works and building on that isn’t the normal way we do politics, education, health, manage relationships or work together. The world will be a much better place when we get it to spread! 

Any comments or questions on any of this are welcome. 

Details 

I’m looking for contributions up to 2500 words in length; podcasts; blogs; photo or visual essays – whatever is most natural for you to share your ideas about naturalising AI. 

Outlines or summaries should be received by June, 2024. Final versions of the articles will need to be submitted by the beginning of August 2024. 

Getting in touch 

Please contact me by email nick@nickheap.co.uk, WhatsApp +44 7879 861525. You can book a call here. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Nick 

Call for Articles

What we ASK ChatGPT determines what we FIND. 

What we FIND determines how we TALK to each other and with ChatGPT. 

How we TALK determines how we and ChatGPT SEE our future. 

How we SEE our future determines what we CREATE altogether 

(Vivien Hau, Inspired by Cooperrider & Whitney) 

Download Call for Articles

Working title: 

AI2 – Blending Appreciative Inquiry with Artificial Intelligence 

Editors: David Shaked & Vivien Hau 

Focus of the Issue: 

Many of us, AI practitioners and enthusiasts, have had to clarify, when talking about “AI”, what we mean by that acronym. Outside the world of Appreciative Inquiry, most people have linked AI with artificial intelligence. We know Appreciative Inquiry is very different and unrelated to artificial intelligence; there is nothing “artificial” about it. We want the world to recognise and appreciate its uniqueness and its power to drive positive transformation. We know “our AI” is truly an enabler of generative conversations leading to creative possibilities for the future. 

As long as artificial intelligence was limited to advanced academic research, science fiction movies or specific business applications, the distinction was obvious. However, with the rapid development and arrival of easy-to-access and widely used generative language tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, Dall-E, Midjourney, Pi and others, has the time arrived to connect the two AIs and benefit from the strengths of both? How might artificial intelligence enhance the practice of Appreciative Inquiry, and vice versa? 

We know that words create worlds. The current artificial intelligence tools are generative, both potentially shaping how we see the world, as well as how our future generations experience the world. There is still time for us to create a better world through shaping the lens artificial intelligence sees the world. How might we build or enhance safety in using these tools rather than focus on reducing risks? How might Appreciative Inquiry help improve the conversations around artificial Intelligence? How might the questions we ask shape artificial intelligence? 

Possible Topics & Guiding Questions 

In this edition, we would like to explore, to learn with the community, and further expand the knowledge about how artificial intelligence and Appreciative Inquiry amplify the impact of each other. What ways, tools, processes and new thinking is available and has been tried around the world with this unique combination? We would like to hear from anyone who has tried to combine artificial Intelligence and Appreciative Inquiry. We would also love to gather stories from all sectors and from around the world. 

The following questions might provide some direction for your article: 

  • What inspired you (or those you worked with) to consider marrying artificial intelligence with Appreciative Inquiry? 
  • How did you and/or others use artificial intelligence tools within your Appreciative Inquiry interventions? 
  • How did the use of artificial intelligence tools contribute to your work and/or the Appreciative Inquiry process or intervention? What insights did you gain along the way? 
  • How can Appreciative Inquiry contribute to the development of a better world through artificial intelligence? (Even if this is not put into practice yet, any ideas are welcomed) 
  • What surprised or delighted you and others about this combination? 
  • What is your best advice to those seeking to bring in artificial intelligence tools to their Appreciative Inquiry practise? Would you suggest certain boundaries in terms of usage of this technology? 

Finally, what do we need to consider now to ensure Appreciative Inquiry, continues to thrive as a relational, dialogical and generative practice? How might Appreciative Inquiry be helpful to the growing communities of users and developers of artificial intelligence tools? These tools are developing and evolving rapidly. New tools will be developed. We invite you to go further and higher, to dream about yet undiscovered possibilities – what artificial technology tools would you love to have in your Appreciative Inquiry practice? 

We are curious to know what ideas will be generated when we come together as a league of AI2. 

How to contribute: 

To ensure sufficient time is left for us to consider your proposal and for you to write the article, we invite you to send a proposal (300 words maximum) by 10th November, 2023 to David Shaked at: David@almond-insight.com. We will respond to your proposal by 20th November 2023. We will prioritise the articles proposed in this round. A later target date for the submission of proposal is also possible – these proposals must be submitted by the 16th February 2024. We encourage you to submit your proposals as early as possible to ensure we can include them in this edition. We may not be able to include all proposals submitted in the second round. The complete article drafts of all accepted proposals must be submitted by 15th March 2024. 

Your final article can range from 800 to a maximum of 2000 words. Art, charts and diagrams should be provided separately in high resolution, publication ready. 

Call for Articles for May 2023 issue of AI Practitioner

Appreciative Inquiry for Life: Working with nature in a time of ecological crisis

Guest Editor: Joeri Kabalt

‘The more clearly we focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.’ – Rachel Carson

Life has always been at the heart of Appreciative Inquiry. What gives life? What helps this group or that system to thrive? Our current ecological crisis calls us to critically reflect upon our responsibility and potential contribution as AI practitioners in this turbulent time. What if we chose even more radically to place all of life, including the more-than-human world (Abram, 1996), at the centre of everything we do? What could that look like? What would we do differently?

Even in their original article on AI, Cooperrider and Srivastva (1987) stressed the importance of ‘reverence for life’: the wonder and awe that come from recognising we are part of a world that is alive. This enchanted and participative worldview (Berman, 1981; Bennett, 2001) that focuses on kinship and interconnectedness seems even more important now to strengthen our sense of belonging and affection for the world around us and to serve as a call to step up for our planet.

Questions we would like to explore in this special issue are:

  • If we take participation seriously and aim to ‘get the whole system in the room’, how do we include and invite the voices of the more-than-human world? How do we give places, rivers, mountains and animals a say?
  • How can we invite leaders in organisations and beyond to reconnect to their sense of wonder and felt experience of interconnectedness with nature? How do we balance the tension of urgency and grief in climate crisis with care and creativity with nature?
  • How might we help to create new possibilities and generative images for the future that invite and mobilise people to act? What practices do we have to invite long-term and intergenerational thinking and action?
  • How can we work, inspired by and in partnership with nature, to create new cultures in organisations? How might we help to shape new narratives of purpose and progress that are characterised by care for all life on our planet?
  • What could (or even should) be our unique contributions as AI practitioners in response to the climate emergency? What skills or practices do we have that can make a difference at this time of crisis and collapse?

Contributions from your research, practices and experiences

We are looking for articles that explore one or more of the questions above, in a wide variety of contexts: teams, leadership, organisations, communities. Alongside research and practices from within the international AI community, we also explicitly welcome contributions from people who work with Action Research, ecology, nature connection or indigenous wisdom. We are particularly interested in case studies and practices that put the questions above to work: experiments, methods or cases in which you have tried to work with nature, as well as your insights and lessons.

For the final written submissions, we will be making a distinction between longer in-depth articles that combine theory and practice (around 2000 words) and ‘glimpses’: short stories of moments when you worked with nature (about 500 words). Art and graphics should be in high resolution and ready for publication. Poetry should be formatted for publication. Video links are also encouraged.

Making a Proposal / Draft:

Please let us know of your interest and submit your abstract by November the 1st 2022 using this link: https://forms.gle/GeU8zYK4EvDVaRZa7.

Back to top