And, NO, not that AI.
I became aware of Appreciative Inquiry perhaps two decades ago. I read a book on the subject and it literally changed the way I was leading folks in my organization. Influencing me to shift my leadership mindset and thinking from—
Deficit versus Asset thinking
Strengths versus Weakness thinking
Positive versus Negative thinking
Affirmative versus Denial thinking
Learning Organization versus Status Quo
It also inspired me to become more aware (and appreciative) of—
Becoming much more strengths-based in my self-awareness and leadership approaches.
Amplifying strengths when coaching individuals.
Using more appreciative and positive language when providing feedback.
Including the teams in co-creating and crafting a shared vision.
But importantly, it also changed me from the inside out. For example—
I became more aware and positive in the stories I was telling myself.
I became more aware of the deconstructive nature of most of my conversations—focusing on problems, weaknesses, and issues.
I became aware of the power of it. When shifting a conversation, the a shift in the energy of the conversation. And the results.
Next, I want to share some specific mappings of AI towards your Agile Coaching mindset and practices.
Ways AI can be brought to your coaching
I’ll use the Agile Coaching Growth Wheel here as the model for this exploration.
1. Coaching questions – the most obvious place for AI in your coaching is awareness of and application to your powerful question mix when you’re in a professional coaching stance.
2. Self-Mastery – leveraging AI with yourself in your self-awareness, self-care, and reflective practices can be a game changer. This is the foundation for all of your coaching.
3. Continuous Improvement – in this case, of yourself. Think in terms of a strengths-based or AI approach where you focus your learning journey where you have the most energy and skills.
4. Meta-Skills – to me, there can be a tight coupling between using meta-skills and applying your AI mindset.
5. Storytelling – This is two-fold: exploring your storytelling and metaphor use during your coaching and influencing the stories both you and your clients are privately telling yourself.
6. Presence – there is a connection in the energy we bring in our presence. AI in our mindset can add a wonderful aspect to your coaching awareness and presence.
7. Mentoring, Leadership, and Advising – bringing an appreciative mindset can augment all of the ACGW stances, but I’ve found it particularly useful when I’m dancing in these stances. Think in terms of meeting the client where they are—with an AI mindset.
AI Facilitation Model – 5-D Cycle
Another aspect of AI is to leverage its 5-D Cycle model of—
Define the topic or theme
Discover the best
Dream what might be
Design what will be
Destiny of sustainability
In your meeting and event facilitation. It is a facilitative meeting format similar to Open Spaces. It’s a way of mining for and instantiating a positive or strengths-based future.
However, the framework flow and the appreciative intent can be copied for other collaborative meetings. For example, you can weave AI into many Liberating Structures tools.
Wrapping Up
As a way of wrapping up this post, I thought I’d share some AI articles and books to inspire you in beginning a journey into Appreciative Inquiry.
I also want to reference this LinkedIn post by Jamie Kriegel, of Scrum Masters of the Universe fame, on how to use AI in retrospectives. It’s a great example of applying AI.
And finally, I want to share this Gary Cohen Moose Herd session video, where he did a great job exploring AI.
Stay appreciative and agile my friends,
Bob.
https://www.centerforappreciativeinquiry.net/more-on-ai/principles-of-appreciative-inquiry/
Articles
A nice introductory article for AI in coaching – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-appreciative-inquiry-coach-krishnan-bangarusamy/
Another view into the value of AI – https://www.cmc-canada.ca/blog/Our%20Blog/the-value-of-appreciative-inquiry
A home source for information –
Books
**The Power of Appreciative Inquiry – A Practical Guide to Positive Change; Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom, (2003)
Appreciative Team Building – Positive Questions to Bring Out the Best of Your Team; Diana Whitney, Amanda Trosten-Bloom, Jay Cherney, and Ron Fry, (2004)
**Appreciative Coaching – A Positive Process for Change; Sara Orem, Jacqueline Binkert, and Ann Clancy, (2007)
Appreciative Inquiry – A Positive Revolution in Change; David Cooperrider and Diana Whitney, (2005)
The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook – For Leaders of Change, David Cooperrider, (2008)
Appreciative Inquiry – Change at the Speed of Imagination; Jane Magruder Watkins, (2011)
**Flourishing Together – Guide to Appreciative Inquiry Coaching; Miriam Subirana, (2016)
**Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry – A Leadership Journey Through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness; Joan McArthur-Blair and Jeanie Cockell; (2018)
Stan and the Four Fantastic Powers; Shira Levy, Marge Schiller, and Stefanie Rudolph, (2018)
**Conversations Worth Having – Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement; Jackie Stavos and Cheri Torres, (2021)
Practical Appreciative Inquiry – How to Use This Leading-Edge Coaching Method Confidently with Teams and Small Groups; Andy Smith, (2023)
** - books I’ve read fully, recommend, and currently reading.