appreciative inquiry

In April of this year I was introduced to Appreciative Inquiry at the BC School Superintendents' Spring Forum. I immediately liked how it focuses is on what is working as opposed to problem fixing:

Traditional approaches to change (e.g., self studies, strategic planning, problem solving, assessment and evaluation, needs assessments, etc.) typically involve focusing the organization or group on what's not working in a system: identifying problems or gaps. People then develop plans to solve the problems or close the gaps. In a sense, the traditional approaches focus attention on "failures" in the system and "root causes" of those failures. While the traditional approaches work very well as ways of trouble-shooting mechanical and electrical systems, e.g., linear, cause-and-effect systems, they work less well as ways of bringing about positive change at the group or organizational levels.

AI focuses the organization or group on what's working and then identifying the "root causes of success" and creating more of those conditions. AI assumes that organizations--human or social systems--are like organisms. That is, they are living, breathing entities that stay healthiest when they are focused on their positive life-giving characteristics, rather than their problematic aspects.

(full article)

Using the AI approach at my school has already resulted in numerous positive changes - including implementing a recycling/composting program, lunches with the Principal for students on the honour roll, recognition of student birthdays and a new form of student government that is open to all who would like to participate - no more popularity contests elections.

Being in the middle of my coaching course work and my own change process when I attended the forum, I also saw the potential for using this approach with individuals.  I did a little googling and found  Sara Orem's book, which takes Appreciative Inquiry as a basis for approaching the coaching process.  I highly recommend the book for coaches - as well as the audio interviews with Sara available on her website. And personally, learning about this approach was what really hit it home for me that I really didn't want my weight to be my focus - that it would be much wiser to focus on increasing fulfillment in my life.

How would our lives be different if we focused on what was right with us instead of what was wrong with us? On our possibilities instead of our limitations? How would the world be different?