The Appreciative Inquiry

simplicity // 17
the Appreciative Inquiry

I don’t know about you, but if I have an important piece of work to do, or a trip to prepare for, or even (sometimes) just an ordinary day to live, I tend to brace myself and ask, “What could go wrong?”

Now, it’s not a bad thing to prepare for the eventualities. But what happens if we focus most of our attention on them? For a start, we’ll waste our energy (which is finite) contemplating, and trying to avert, the domesday scenarios (which rarely happen anyway). And second, we won’t channel that energy into the things we could do really well. Which seems crazy.

According to the ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ philosophy - as championed by David Cooperrider, a professor of organisational behaviour - humans and their systems grow in the direction of what they persistently ask questions about.

He writes: “I have found that it does not help, in the long run, to begin my inquiries from the standpoint of the world as a problem to be solved. I am more effective, quite simply, as long as I can retain the spirit of inquiry of the everlasting beginner...” It’s a lovely phrase. Just think what it could mean.

For me personally, I have to respond by reversing my usual line of inquiry. And so... Ahem... What can go right, today?

When you stop to think of it, what can’t? I could inspire those around me. I could achieve a goal. I could choose to answer life’s questions with grace, inspired by Victor Frankl. I could open my own eyes to the beauty around me. I could do something daring. I could make a stranger smile. I could savour a journey, instead of wishing my time away. I could unleash my pent-up creativity on the world. I could stop to be silent. I could listen to someone’s story. I could persevere and show courage in adversity. I could laugh. A meeting could go well. I could draw deeply from the well-spring. I could be genuinely curious about the day ahead, the colours, the smells, the textures, the traces of God, the presence of others... I could make someone’s day. I could act in love...

And I could make this a habit.


* * *

action point:

Ask yourself what could go right, today. Identify three things in particular. Write them down. And see where your inquiry leads you.

Try, too, to ask a few additional, “appreciative” questions about each thing. So if, for instance, you decide that you will make someone’s day, try asking yourself positively about that decision. Whose day will you make? What could you do? What will you do? How could it affect them, for good? How could your attitude extend to others, as well? &c...


* * *

rsvp:

(The Answer) “Victor Frankl's thinking about life questioning us makes sense to me. When things are tough it feels we’re being questioned on how we’ll react - how strong are we? How flexibly can we turn a bad thing into a chance to reflect and learn? Equally, when things are great in our lives the questions become - can we accept this happiness with joy and gratitude? How generous can we be in our good fortune?” Kirstan

(The Well-spring) “I went yesterday to Duiske (meaning dark water) Abbey in Kilkenny, a Cistercian abbey first built in the 13th century and which subsequently changed hands across religious denominations across the centuries before ending back with the Catholic church today. What a prayer-filled and peaceful place; my thought is that it does not matter what the denomination is – it’s the collective power of prayer that creates a holy and sacred place.” Ciaran

“My favourite place to which I return all the time is our bedroom; my space at my bedside, I named it ‘my Solitude’. As a child, I regarded my bedroom as sacred – where I was able to study, pray, cry, laugh at my parents and siblings in secret, dance and share jokes with my best friend. Even in adulthood, it is still the only place I can be naked before God, listen for His voice and like Hagar in the Bible say, ‘You’re the God who sees me!’” Nikky

(The Simple Question) “Why ambush the promise of so many good todays, by constantly re-visiting and re-living those painful yesterdays. What does it achieve?” Heather

(The Child’s View) “In Milestones by Hilary Faith Jones, she has a story called The Dance, in which she imagines Jesus dancing with the children when the grown-ups try to shoo them away. It is so infectious! And in terms of sunflowers – a friend gave me a bucket, compost and sunflower seeds. After my holiday I plan to be creative and plant them. I will be remembering lent well into the summer!” Rosalind

“Seems like life is a journey, but how are we travelling? Are we driving in rush hour, foot on the accelerator and hands gripping the wheel in sheer determination? On Friday I got the train to York with a photography group, the journey took 2.5 hours. We enjoyed conversation and the beautiful views out the window. It was as enjoyable as the few hours we spent in York. Sometimes we focus all our attention on the destination asking God, “How long must we wait?” I have found through my own life that God is often more interested in how we learn and grow on the journey - it is here that he tends and cares for us through the frustration, pain, anger, joy and sorrow. The destination at the end is our reward for sticking with Him along the way.” Kirsty

* * *

May your questions help to bring you to life, today.
Go well!

Brian