Reflecting upon appreciative inquiry (AI) and appreciative living (AL) helps individuals develop self-awareness, find the best in others, and maintain a positive organizational culture. Such reflections can inspire others to change, shift automatic thinking, and eliminate negative bias.
analyze appreciative inquiry (AI) and appreciative living (AL) for self-awareness and create a 3- to 4-minute audiovisual presentation for colleagues.
Step 1
Links to an external site. and other scholarly or professional sources to:
• Review Kelm’s five emergent principles.
• Research the effect of Kelm’s emergent principles on leaders through the lens of AI and AL as they relate to reflective leadership practice.
Step 2
Organize your research by preparing what you will share in your presentation. Include:
• how Kelm’s five emergent principles of AI help individuals reflect on their leadership practice
• how the principles affect decisions as leaders
Slide 2: Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry & Living
Key points:
Appreciative Inquiry (AI): A collaborative, strengths-based approach to change. It focuses on what's working well.
Appreciative Living (AL): The personal application of AI principles to one's own life and leadership practice.
Speaker Notes: Appreciative Inquiry is a philosophy of change that shifts our focus from problems to possibilities. Instead of asking, "What's wrong?" it asks, "What's working, and how can we build on that?" Appreciative Living is the personal side of this, encouraging us to apply this positive, strengths-based lens to our own lives and leadership. This mindset is crucial for developing self-awareness and eliminating negative bias.
Slide 3: Kelm’s Five Emergent Principles
Key points:
Positive Principle: The more positive the question, the more lasting the change.
Constructionist Principle: Our reality is shaped by our language and stories.
Simultaneity Principle: Inquiry and change happen at the same time.
Poetic Principle: We can choose what we study; we have infinite choices.
Anticipatory Principle: Our future is shaped by the images we hold.
Speaker Notes: Dr. Mary Kelm, a pioneer in the field, outlined five core principles that guide this work. Let's briefly look at each. The Positive Principle tells us that positive energy and questions lead to lasting change. The Constructionist Principle highlights how the language we use to describe ourselves and our teams actually creates our reality. The Simultaneity Principle means that the moment we ask a question, we are already initiating change. The Poetic Principle reminds us that we can choose to focus on any aspect of our lives or organizations. And finally, the Anticipatory Principle states that our vision of the future is what guides our actions today.
Sample Answer
Appreciative inquiry (AI) and appreciative living (AL) are powerful frameworks for developing self-awareness and fostering a positive leadership style. Drawing upon Kelm’s five emergent principles, this analysis provides the core content for a 3- to 4-minute audiovisual presentation for colleagues.
The Presentation Script
Slide 1: Title Slide
Title: Appreciative Inquiry and Appreciative Living: A Leader's Reflection
Speaker Notes: Welcome, everyone. Today, I'd like to share a powerful framework for leadership and personal growth: the principles of Appreciative Inquiry and Appreciative Living. We'll explore how these ideas can help us become more self-aware and make better decisions as leaders.