I thought I’d share with you some of the best resources for Appreciative Inquiry (and related approaches) that I’ve stumbled across recently:
Is your leadership above the line or below the line? I was introduced to this way of putting the distinction between two modes of being by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres, and I think it’s something everyone needs to know about (see the video above)
With Our Questions We Make The World – Marilee Goldberg Adams, Marjorie Schiller and David L. Cooperrider. A chapter from ‘Constructive Discourse and Human Organization Advances in Appreciative Inquiry,Volume 1’ (PDF download)
https://b-m-institute.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Goldberg-et-al-WITH_OUR_QUESTIONS_WE_MAKE_THE_WORLD.pdf
Stan and The Four Fantastic Powers: The first Appreciative Inquiry book for kids, is now available for free in an electronic PDF format from the Taos Insitute!
https://www.taosinstitutecommons.com/posts/free-worldshare-books-stan-and-the-four-fantastic-powers
A person-centred, strengths-based view of ADHD by Keith Storace in Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/we-are-story/202509/embracing-a-person-centred-strengths-based-view-of-adhd
An academic but readable paper about Generative Questions: Bushe. G.R. (2013), Generative process, generative outcome: The transformational potential of appreciative inquiry, in D.L. Cooperrider, D.P. Zandee, L.N. Godwin, M. Avital & B. Boland (eds.) Organizational Generativity: The Appreciative Inquiry Summit and a Scholarship of Transformation (Advances in Appreciative Inquiry, Volume 4), (PDF download)
https://gervasebushe.ca/AI_generativity.pdf
More from Keith Storace, this time from AI Practitioner magazine:
‘Appreciative Inquiry and the Young Philosophers: Nurturing Hope and Agency in a Complex World — Ten Principles for Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Therapists to Foster Reflective Practice’ (PDF download)
https://aipractitioner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/aip-sept-2025-ai-meeting-in-namur-voices-from-the-field.pdf
Another free book from the Taos Institute Worldshare Library – Appreciative Inquiry as a Daily Leadership Practice: Realizing Change One Conversation at a Time by Luc Verheijen, Saskia Tjepkema, Joeri Kabalt
https://www.taosinstitute.net/product/appreciative-inquiry-as-a-daily-leadership-practice-realizing-change-one-conversation-at-a-time-2
The Solution Focused Circle technique by Arnoud Huibers & Ben Furman. This is flat-out brilliant (in a ‘this is so obvious, why didn’t I think of that?’ kind of way) and would be a useful addition to any coach’s toolkit. (PDF download)
https://journalsfp.org/article/75018-the-solution-focused-circle-technique-a-visual-tool-for-discovering-strengths-and-facilitating-change-in-therapy-and-counseling
If you’re a coach, and you’re wondering how to apply Appreciative Inquiry in one-to-one coaching, check out my new book, Practical Coaching With Appreciative Inquiry.
It’s already picked up its first 5-star review!
“For practitioners who have found AI conceptually appealing but difficult to translate into daily sessions, this book is the bridge you’ve been waiting for.” – Joe Dager, Business901
