An Appreciative approach to Coaching

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An Appreciative approach to Coaching

• AI involves the art and practice of asking
  questions that strengthen a persons capacity to
  apprehend, anticipate and heighten positive
  potential.

Presented by Jo McAlpine www.integralcoach.com.au

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An Appreciative approach to Coaching
Tell the story of what brings you to life in your
coaching.
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Appreciative Coaching explores whats POSSIBLE
NOT whats wrong!

• Appreciative Coaching is a positive, strengths
  based approach to change.
• It is deliberate in its life-centric search to
  find the best in people and the world around
  them.
• It co-creates inspiring future images of what we
  want more of, then grounds these images into
  sustainable action plans

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History

• Based on Appreciative Inquiry and the work of
  David L. Cooperrider Associates at Case Western
  Reserve University
• The mechanistic age sees human systems as
  machines and parts (people) as things to be fixed
• Challenged in the mid-eighties with the notion
  that organisations are expressions of beauty,
  spirit and positive action.
• Born as a group change process, actively looking
  for what works, creating the future by using the
  best from the past
• Organisations including NASA, McDonalds, US Navy,
  Save the Children, Avon, British Airways Hunter
  Douglas and many more

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Basic Assumptions The Coach

• The coach must have the capacity to retain the
  spirit
• of inquiry of the everlasting beginner.
• As coaches, the only thing we can do to make a
  difference is to craft, in better and more
  catalytic ways, the unconditional positive
  question.
• The coach must have the ability to see the
  potential of a mighty oak in an acorn and
  transform that potential to successful outcomes.
  (Appreciative Intelligence)

• There are only two ways to live your life. One
  is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is
  as though everything is a miracle. Albert
  Einstein

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The Ways of Being Coach

• The Coach values and supports positive change
• The Coach understands how their own way of being
  impacts the coaching relationship
• They understand and have integrated their own
  values, beliefs and mindsets within the framework
  of AI
• They know that language creates reality and
  understand the shortfalls of using a language of
  deficit
• They demonstrate coherence between I, We and It

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Appreciative Coaching Outcomes

• Effective positive action
• Performance, Achievement Creativity
• Creates momentum and a desired future
• Creates and builds internal capacity
• Develops the AND not BUT mindset
• Builds and increases adaptability and resilience
• Enhances coaching engagement
• Builds a bridge between thinking, feeling
  action
• Builds develops a positive worldview

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Appreciative inquiry or strength based innovation
Problem solving or deficit based change
Valuing the best of what is Appreciate
Felt Need Identify problem
Imagine (What might be)
Conduct root cause analysis
Dialogue and design (What should
be)
Analyze Possible Solutions
Create (What will be)
Develop action plan (Treatment)
Basic assumption mystery People are a web of
strengths linked to infinite capacity, infinite
imagination alive
Basic assumption problem-to-be solved
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The AI 4-D Model
Discovery What gives life? The best of what
is Appreciating
Dream What might be? Envisioning Results/Impact
Destiny How to empower, learn, and
improvise? Sustaining
Affirmative Topic
Design What should be the ideal? Co-construct
ing
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Appreciative Coaching Practice

• What brings you to life in your coaching?
• How could you have more of that?
• If you were to think of one or two things that
  you can do right now to help you achieve this
  what would they be?
• What can you do to make it happen?
• By when?
• Who will you need to help you?

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References

• Cooperrider, D.L. Whitney, D. Stavros, J. (2003)
  Appreciative Inquiry Handbook. Berrett Koehler,
  San Francisco.
• Csikszentmihalyi,M. (2003) Good Business -
  Leadership, Flow and the Making of Meaning.
  Hodder Stoughton, London
• Hammond, S. (1998) The Thin Book of Appreciative
  Inquiry.Thin Book Publishing, Oregon.
• Thatchenkery, T. Metzker, C. (2006) Appreciative
  Intelligence Seeing the Mighty Oak in the
  Acorn. Berrett Koehler, San Francisco
• www.appreciativeinquiry.case.edu

www.integralcoach.com.au
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An Appreciative Approach to Coaching

• Dialogue and Question Time