Appreciative Inquiry: What It Is and How to Put It into Practice
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Have you ever heard of appreciative inquiry? This is a methodology that seeks to promote positive changes, being used both in personal and professional life.
In this article, you will learn what appreciative inquiry is, how it came about, what its benefits are, and how to apply it in practice. Let's go!
What is appreciative inquiry?
Appreciative inquiry (AI) is an approach that focuses on collaboratively exploring positive aspects, rather than focusing on problems and shortcomings. The idea is to identify and expand on what already works well, stimulating creativity, innovation and participation from those involved. AI is based on the principle that all systems have strengths and can generate desirable and sustainable changes.
How did appreciative inquiry come about?
In the 1980s, two researchers at Case Western Reserve University, David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva, developed appreciative inquiry based on their observations in the corporate environment.
They realized that traditional approaches to change, based on analysis and problem-solving, were limited and often generated resistance and demotivation. Therefore, they proposed a new way of looking at things, focusing on strengths and possibilities for growth.
What are the benefits of appreciative inquiry?
Appreciative inquiry brings several benefits, especially when applied to organizations, such as:
- It increases the self-esteem and confidence of those involved, who feel valued and recognized for their positive contributions.
- It encourages cooperation and engagement among participants, who become co-authors of change and share a common vision of the future. It thus helps people communicate more effectively. Therefore, it leads to a better mutual understanding of those involved.
- It promotes continuous learning and development by encouraging the exchange of experiences, questioning and experimentation. In this way, appreciative inquiry helps people to think more creatively and innovatively. This can lead to new ideas and solutions.
- Generates concrete and lasting results, as changes are based on the real needs and aspirations of the organization and its stakeholders.
How to apply appreciative inquiry in practice?
The AI process follows four stages, known by the acronym 4D: discovery, dream, design and destiny. Here's how each one works:
Discovery
The discovery stage consists of identifying and valuing the positive aspects of the organization, such as its achievements, talents, values, differences, etc. To do this, appreciative interviews are conducted, in which participants are invited to share success stories and express what they most appreciate about the organization. In this way, this information is collected and analyzed, generating a positive diagnosis of the current situation.
Dream
The dream stage involves imagining and building a vision of the future for the organization, based on its strengths and opportunities for improvement. To achieve this, creative workshops are held in which participants are encouraged to dream about what they want for the organization and visualize what it would be like if it were ideal. These ideas are synthesized and communicated, generating a shared vision of the future.
Design
The design stage consists of planning and developing the actions needed to make the vision of the future a reality. To do this, working groups are formed, in which participants are challenged to define objectives, strategies, resources, indicators, deadlines, etc. These plans are validated and aligned, generating a collective commitment to action.
Destiny
The target stage consists of implementing and evaluating the planned actions, seeking to achieve the expected results. To this end, periodic monitoring is carried out, in which the participants are responsible for executing, monitoring, adjusting and celebrating the actions. This way, this feedback is recorded and shared, generating a cycle of learning and continuous improvement.
Appreciative inquiry can be applied in different contexts and situations, such as strategic planning, project management, team development, process improvement, among others.
Some tips on how to apply appreciative inquiry:
- Start with an appreciative question: The first step is to formulate an appreciative question. An appreciative question is a question that focuses on both strengths and future possibilities. For example, an appreciative question for an organization might be: “How can we become an even more innovative organization?”
- Bring together a diverse group of people: Appreciative inquiry is a collaborative approach. Bring together a diverse group of people to participate in the process. This will ensure that different perspectives are considered.
- Use a variety of tools and techniques: There are many tools and techniques for use in appreciative inquiry. So choose the tools and techniques that are most appropriate for your system.
Relationship between appreciative inquiry and positive psychology
AI and positive psychology are two approaches that share a common orientation towards positive development, but they have distinct focuses and applications:
Emphasis on the Positive
- Appreciative Inquiry (AI): AI focuses on identifying and amplifying positive strengths in organizations, teams, and individuals. It is based on the premise that organizations function best when they recognize their strengths and use them to catalyze growth.
- Positive Psychology: Positive psychology, on the other hand, is a discipline that seeks to understand and promote positive aspects of the human experience, such as happiness, gratitude, resilience and well-being. It examines how people can flourish and thrive, going beyond the simple absence of problems.
Constructive Approach
- Appreciative Inquiry (AI): AI takes a constructive approach, focusing attention on what is working well and amplifying these positive practices. It encourages the collection of success stories and the application of solutions based on those stories.
- Positive Psychology: Positive psychology also adopts a constructive perspective, seeking to understand and promote constructive aspects of the human psyche. It seeks to identify factors that contribute to fulfillment and happiness, promoting interventions that strengthen these aspects.
Practical Applications
- Appreciative Inquiry (AI): AI is often applied in organizational contexts to drive positive change, improve corporate culture, and strengthen relationships between team members.
- Positive Psychology: Positive psychology has broader applications, encompassing domains such as therapy, education, coaching, and personal development.
While appreciative inquiry and positive psychology have similar goals of fostering positive growth and development, AI is more focused on organizational and change contexts, while positive psychology has broader application across many areas of human life. Both, however, contribute to a more holistic and positive approach to understanding and promoting well-being.
In short…
Appreciative inquiry is a methodology that can transform organizations, making them more positive, creative, collaborative, and effective. Rather than focusing on problems, AI focuses on solutions, bringing out the best in people and situations.
Thus, AI contributes to the development of more human, happy and sustainable organizations. Have you tried appreciative inquiry in your organization? Start now! transformation!
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Image: Freepik
Marcel Castilho is an expert in neuromarketing, neuroscience, mindfulness and positive psychology. In addition to being an advertiser, he also has a Master's degree in NLP – Neurolinguistic Programming. As the owner and founder of the communications agency VeroCom and also of the digital agency Vero Contents, he has been studying human behavior for over 30 years.
