Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry
for League Coaches
With our thanks to Jim Francek
of Tava Full Circle
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
In reviewing over 30 years of psychological
research, found there were 45,000 studies on
depression and only 300 studies on joy
M. Seligman, President APA
University of Pennsylvania
The real voyage of discovery consists
not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust
Appreciative Inquiry
Elevates & Extends
Broadens & Builds
Positive Actions/Outcomes
Activates Energy
Attracts Others
Positive
Broadens & Builds
Strengths
Elevate
through
Inquiry
AP-PRE’CI-ATE (VERB)
 To
value…
 To

recognize the best in people or the world
around us;
 To affirm past and present strengths, successes,
and potentials;
 To perceive those things that give life (health,
vitality, excellence) to living systems
To increase in value, e.g. the economy has
appreciated in value
IN-QUIRE’ (KWIR) (VERB)
To explore and discover
 To ask questions
 To be open to seeing new potentials and
possibilities

Synonyms: discover, search, study
CHANGE BEGINS
THE MOMENT WE ASK A QUESTION!
The words we use, and
the words we pay attention to
create our experience of the world!
Everyday we get up
we make a choice
on what we will focus on…
will it be on what is broken?
or
will it be on what is possible & our strengths!
Intentional Construction
Words create
the framework
for our lives!
We choose how we look
at things and how we
talk about them
THE ART OF ASKING QUESTIONS!
DEFICIT APPROACH
AFFIRMATIVE APPROACH

What’s the biggest problem
here?

What possibilities exist that
we have not thought about
yet?

What do you have to do to
correct what’s not working?

What’s the smallest change
that could make the biggest
impact?

Why do you miss the mark so
often?

What solutions would have
us all win?
Simultaneous Factor
Inquiry and change
are simultaneous!
Asking questions
influences change!
Simultaneous Factor
Questions direct our attention…
which directs our experience!


What are the morale issues
on your LWV board?
or
What excites you about
working on this board?
Opens More Possibilities
Every moment is full of an
infinite array of possibilities!
We
can only see what we
have grown an eye to see.
Look
at strengths & for
opportunities …
and new things will emerge.
Anticipating & Motivating
If you want to build a ship
don’t drum up the people
to gather wood, divide the
work and give orders…
Instead teach them to
yearn for the vast and
endless sea!
Expect to be inspired!
Positive Image
Positive Action
“When we seek to bring out the best in others,
we somehow bring out the best in ourselves”
William Arthur Ward
TO BE EFFECTIVE
The art of being an effective coach
is to engage others
with the right positive questions
at the right time !
ON REFLECTION…
“Although we don’t usually think of them
this way, most social realities – schools,
hospitals, stock exchanges, political
parties, churches – are actualizations of
ideas that once existed only in the minds
of a few women and men.
This is also true of abolition of slavery, the
replacement of monarchies with republics
and all other progress we have made…”
Riane Eisler
Same with the idea that women had the right to Vote!
THE AI PROCESS
Discovery
Identify
Strengths, possibilities
from our Positive Core
Destiny
Develop Action Plan
for Design
Positive
Core
Dream
Create collective vision
based on Positive Core
Design
Develop infrastructure
to implement Dream
Vision without action is merely a dream;
Action without vision passes the time;
Vision with action can change the world.
~ Joel Barker
Power of Vision
High
Appreciative Inquiry
Coaches Foster…
Deepening
Relationships
Elevates & Extends
Broadens & Builds
Positive Actions/Outcomes
Activates Energy
Attracts others
Positive
Broadens & Builds
Strengths
Elevate
through
Inquiry
Initiating
Inquiry into
The Appreciable World
Advancing
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
“Appreciative Coaching“ is built on the shoulders of
many senior authors and practitioners






David Cooperrider: Appreciative Inquiry (a positive revolution of change)
Diana Whitney & Amanda Trost Bloom: The Power of Appreciative Inquiry (a
practical guide to positive change)
Jacqueline Bascobert Kelm: Appreciative Living: (the principles of Appreciative
Inquiry in personal living)
Jacqueline Bascobert Kelm: The Joy of Appreciative Living
Tojo Thatchenkery & Carol Metzer: Appreciative Intelligence: (Seeing the Mighty
Oak in the Acorn)
Marjorie Schiller, Bea Mah Holland, & Deana Riley: Appreciative Leaders: (In the
eye of the beholder)
We thank Jim Francek, of Tava Full Circle,
for his teachings and belief in what is possible for
the League!
AND REMEMBER…
When you focus on what
you are “moving to”…
miracles happen!
Practicing Open Ended Questions
The local League coordinator
indicates It’s been difficult to get
the other board members to
see the value in adopting the
membership and leadership
growth best practices while
planning events/activities.