Let me continue sharing about my experience with
Appreciative Inquiry. Following the Culture Transformation summits, I was offered the possibility to become a certified AI
facilitator. The first training was the Foundation and consisted in
understanding more about AI by experiencing the methodology going through the
4-D cycle, doing team assignments, and sharing learning and best practices.
There are a few things I keep fresh in my memory from the AI Foundation
training, beyond the AI theory and the 4-D cycle practice;
• The
breathing exercises we did in the morning, evening, and every time the group
needed an energy boost;
• The
inspiring stories and examples of AI applied in several other organizations and
“living systems” shared by Anita Sanchez and Kit Tennis;
• The
comparison between AI and Problem Solving that was beautifully illustrated by a
colleague Engineer with the Accelerating Time to Resolution process used by his
team;
• The hints
on how to be a good facilitator and the success factors for AI events in
organizations (e.g. senior sponsorship and pre-work).
A second training event followed a few months later - the
Advanced AI for organizations. This time we spent more time learning,
practicing and reflecting about how to choose an affirmative topic, how to
build an AI interview guide, how to plan and facilitate an AI workshop or
summit, how to tailor our work, and how to analyze results and follow through.
Once more our trainers, Anita and Kit, ensured a great
balance between theory and practice, connecting individually with each trainee,
capturing what mattered most to each person, and understanding the cultural
specifics of our origins and work geographies. What seemed to be a standard
training was in reality very customized.
The Appreciative Inquiry Foundation and Advanced Facilitator
training delivered by Anita and Kit enabled me to apply AI in several occasions
in the past 6 years both at professional and personal levels. Their experience and teaching methodology made
the learning process very effective.
There is much more to tell and I will leave that to my next
post. Meanwhile, I would love to learn how Appreciative Inquiry, or other change
management methodology/approach, has supported you throughout your life.
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