Me and AI - part 4

After moving to Geneva 5 years ago, I delivered an introductory 2-hour workshop on Appreciative Inquiry to HP colleagues in the local HP office, and during the session I kept getting questions from an experienced Project Manager who seemed very skeptical about the usability and effectiveness of AI.  The day we had a full AI workshop in the site with a concrete theme that mattered to the group, that colleague joined and, again, kept asking questions and making comments. This time, however, the tone was much more positive. And a year later, when I returned to work from maternity leave, that same colleague invited me to introduce AI to his peers in the PMI (Project Management Institute) Swiss Chapter. I felt very happy and honored by the invitation. Unfortunately at the time I had to decline due to conflicts with work and family commitments, and recommended him an external AI consultant who I had met in a networking event.

The more I apply AI, the more I am convinced that this methodology really works. And it works on a personal level too!  A few years ago, my husband and his best friends were in a cross-road with regards to their jobs and their professional objectives, and they wanted to reflect and decide about potential career moves. So we organized a 2-day workshop in Paris, where most of those friends live, with the objective of sharing about everyone0s ambitions and brainstorming about next steps which potentially included starting a company together. The first part of the workshop was based on AI and aimed at discovering the group’s positive core. We all answered questions about the most positive experiences, strengths and dreams, and several commonalities were found that inspired the group until the workshop ended. Everyone enjoyed the process and affirmed that AI had a very positive influence on the outcome. Following this workshop, my husband completed his MBA, is currently in pursuing a PhD and starting a company. One of our friends changed job twice since then, and feels much happier and motivated today.

After being trained as Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator, I have been carrying AI in my mind and heart. I am not fanatic, enforcing AI to every situation but I am an Ambassador of this methodology to drive and manage positive change and apply it wisely when most appropriate. Thanks to AI, to discovering my positive core and that of several teams, organizations and groups I am or have been part of, I am more open to new possibilities, to embracing change, to focusing on strengths, and to promoting improvements in me, in my family and in my environment.

Lately I have been thinking about how AI could be used to support parents and children in discovering their positive core, focusing on their best family moments and experiences, and in improving family relationships. I did some research on parenting coaching and bought a book about Positive Family Dynamics. I am considering the possibility of one day, eventually when my current career no longer fulfils me or I am compelled to changing course for some reason, becoming a parenting coach using Appreciative Inquiry and the Discovery of the Positive Core methodology.

If I have to give an image of myself before and after learning and applying Appreciative Inquiry methodology, it would be that of a smiley, dreamy young woman, full of energy and optimism, that grew into a smiley, dreamy wife and mother, very appreciative of what life offers and confident about a bright future.