Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a simple, effective tool for organizational learning and change. It helps individuals discover everything that gives life to them and the organization then builds the future on a foundation of shared meaning. People and organizations move in the direction of their images of the future. The more positive the image the more positive the choices will be.

The momentum for any large scale change is determined by the percentage of people involved. When people are feeling appreciated, confident, and inspired they are more likely to accept an invitation to add their portion to discovery and creativity. The more people actively engaged in the transitional process the more wholeness the decsions will reflect and the more liekely they are to succeed.

AI is most simply a process which gets people into the same room to ask each other what is most important to them, what excites them, what brings them joy and what their dreams are for the future. Rather than talking about what needs ot be fixed, what is going wrong or what crisis has erupted, attention is focused on listening and learning what they do best. AI brings people together to celebrate all that works well and to discover a future inspired by dreams.

AI is one approach available to congregations for uniting the membership, claiming a vision for the future, and planning how to move toward that vision. It is based on the belief that the words we share, the questions we ask, relfect the future we are intentionally building. When we are creative and positive, that is what life in the community reflects. AI asks us to intentionally be positive, hold on to what is good and appreciate the best in one another.  AI teaches that when we focus on what works, what doesn't will take care of itself.