Note: I’m going to use the term ‘learner’ throughout this article rather than the more traditional ‘coachee’. I’m not a fan of that term, because it implies being a passive recipient, which is emphatically not what’s going on in the…
Three Common Myths About Appreciative Inquiry
1. Appreciative Inquiry Is Only About Being ‘Positive’ ❌ On first hearing about Appreciative Inquiry, it might be tempting to dismiss the approach as ‘looking at the world through rose-coloured glasses, pretending everything is wonderful, and sweeping problems under the…
Directive vs Non-Directive Coaching – What’s the Difference?
Appreciative Inquiry facilitator and coach Andy Smith describes the difference between Directive and Non-Directive coaching
Is the ‘Righting Reflex’ Cramping Your Management Style?
Why listening beats giving advice, and what coaches and managers can learn from Motivational Interviewing Recently I came across an engaging short video by Roksana Anning on the ‘Righting Reflex’. The term was new to me, but the idea resonated…
How To Use Appreciative Inquiry Without A Formal 5D Cycle (4): Appreciative Interviews In Coaching
How to get your coaching client to feel at ease with you, open up quicker, and reframe their issues, in your first session A new Practical Appreciative Inquiry online training starts soon – click here to get the details and how…
How To Use Appreciative Inquiry Without A Formal 5D Cycle (2): Conversational Appreciative Inquiry!
For this week’s tip I’m indebted to my good friend Gavin Ingham, the renowned sales expert and motivational speaker. Gavin attended the ‘in the room’ version of my Practical Appreciative Inquiry course a few years back, and like so many…
Appreciative Inquiry: Business-Friendly Appreciative Interview Format (video + transcript)
Appreciative interviews are the heart of Appreciative Inquiry, and they come in many different formats. This format is the best I’ve found for business use. As well as looking for stories of success, these 4 questions look for what people…
Appreciative Inquiry: What Happens In The Discovery Stage? (video + transcript)
Four reasons why it’s better to look at what’s already working, and what’s worked in the past, BEFORE jumping straight to setting goals. This is what we do in the Discovery stage of Appreciative Inquiry, and it’s one of the…
Appreciative Inquiry: Why Do We Use Affirmative Topics? (video + transcript)
A new Practical Appreciative Inquiry live online facilitator training starts soon – click here to get the details and how to book Transcript The affirmative topic for an Appreciative Inquiry is important – ‘fateful’ as many books about AI describe…
How To Do Appreciative Interviews With People Who Are Feeling Negative (video and transcript)
Recently one of my Practical Appreciative Inquiry graduates emailed me an interesting question. She is using an appreciative interview format in her research working with maternity staff (doctors, midwives and maternity support workers) who have worked through the Covid crisis…