02-21-2011, 12:00 AM
I came across this some time ago and it embodies the atmosphere Id like to see here more in our dealings with each other, rather than the open and sometimes immature fighting that breaks out. Not suggesting we stop disagreeing with each other, but perhaps find a greater context of respect within which to disagree What do you think?
Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world
around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to
perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2.
to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms:
VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.
In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions;
to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY,
SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.
Appreciative Inquiry is about the coevolutionary search for the best in people, their
organizations, and the relevant world around them. In its broadest focus, it involves
systematic discovery of what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive,
most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human
terms. AI involves, in a central way, the art and practice of asking questions that
strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive
potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry through the crafting of
the “unconditional positive question” often-involving hundreds or sometimes
thousands of people. In AI the arduous task of intervention gives way to the speed of
imagination and innovation; instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis,
there is discovery, dream, and design. AI seeks, fundamentally, to build a
constructive union between a whole people and the massive entirety of what people
talk about as past and present capacities: achievements, assets, unexplored potentials,
innovations, strengths, elevated thoughts, opportunities, benchmarks, high point
moments, lived values, traditions, strategic competencies, stories, expressions of
wisdom, insights into the deeper corporate spirit or soul-- and visions of valued and
possible futures. Taking all of these together as a gestalt, AI deliberately, in
everything it does, seeks to work from accounts of this “positive change core”—and
it assumes that every living system has many untapped and rich and inspiring
accounts of the positive. Link the energy of this core directly to any change agenda
and changes never thought possible are suddenly and democratically mobilized.
Read the complete excerpt from A Positive Revolution in Change:
Appreciative Inquiry by David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney.
Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world
around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to
perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2.
to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms:
VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.
In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions;
to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY,
SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.
Appreciative Inquiry is about the coevolutionary search for the best in people, their
organizations, and the relevant world around them. In its broadest focus, it involves
systematic discovery of what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive,
most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human
terms. AI involves, in a central way, the art and practice of asking questions that
strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive
potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry through the crafting of
the “unconditional positive question” often-involving hundreds or sometimes
thousands of people. In AI the arduous task of intervention gives way to the speed of
imagination and innovation; instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis,
there is discovery, dream, and design. AI seeks, fundamentally, to build a
constructive union between a whole people and the massive entirety of what people
talk about as past and present capacities: achievements, assets, unexplored potentials,
innovations, strengths, elevated thoughts, opportunities, benchmarks, high point
moments, lived values, traditions, strategic competencies, stories, expressions of
wisdom, insights into the deeper corporate spirit or soul-- and visions of valued and
possible futures. Taking all of these together as a gestalt, AI deliberately, in
everything it does, seeks to work from accounts of this “positive change core”—and
it assumes that every living system has many untapped and rich and inspiring
accounts of the positive. Link the energy of this core directly to any change agenda
and changes never thought possible are suddenly and democratically mobilized.
Read the complete excerpt from A Positive Revolution in Change:
Appreciative Inquiry by David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney.