A Skeptic’s Guide to Appreciative Inquiry

[@AL-tb7kc]

Thank you for sharing this. It actually helped me better understand what appreciative inquiry is.

[@jillmatter3622]

Thank you this is the best explanation I have come across.

[@socksumi]

The end goal of AI is compliance to changes and decisions decreed by management. AI is an applied psychology designed to create an atmosphere of positivity... in regards to what management decides and to thwart criticism and skepticism which gets labelled negative or disruptive. The idea is to make us see management in a positive light thus making it easy for them to enact anything they want free from judgment and criticism. It's exactly how it went down in the organization I used to work for when they shit canned 14 front line employees then brought in AI programs to help us see the positives in this new structure. Contrary to claims, AI is not a voice for all employees. You're only free to say what you want as long it's not critical and it's what management wants you to say. What about employees that left the organization?... you know the ones shit canned as part of managements changes? Well it's AI doctrine to never hear a word from anyone who left. "Hear no evil, speak no evil". A little surprise from an ideology that claims to be a voice for all. The reality is... they like a rigged game and AI helps them achieve just that.

[@jenniferozgur5625]

I am so sorry that happened to you. It sounds like it's not AI that was the negative experience; rather that they used AI as "damage control" instead of true organizational change management where all voices are heard. I don't know who facilitated your experience, but if I were to take on a client, I'd only do so if their goal was to strengthen teams... not as a Band-Aid after management cleaned house.

[@Acreative4s]

@socksumi I'm almost angry that you were subjected to this experience! Appreciative Inquiry is a process that I utilize personally and professionally in organizations, coaching, and community work, with one singular promise: inviting the whole system into a conversation of possibility that enlivens, engages, and inspires their leadership. And, by leadership I mean a shared, collective capacity to make meaningful, relevant, and powerful changes that matter to those in the company, community, or one's own life. I always close by inviting every participant to share not just what excited them but what commitments they will put into action. The key is to ensure that the process itself reflects these commitments. @socksumi hoping you don't give up on Appreciative Inquiry or those trying to do good or better in organizational systems, but I will say 'booooooooooo' with you for the experience you had with your folks.

[@Acreative4s]

@@jenniferozgur5625 YES!

[@socksumi]

@@Acreative4s Well at my workplace management terminated 14 skilled staff and used AI programs as a psychological ploy to get the rest of us to stay silent and accept it... lest we be branded "negative and disruptive". Tell me this? Does Appreciative Inquiry invite the thoughts and feelings of people who just got their careers terminated into the conversation? What does AI have to say about justice and objectivity?

[@socksumi]

@@Acreative4s BTW this was many years ago and I am retired now. I was spared the layoff but subjected to the propaganda used in the new "reorg" as they called it (actually it was conceived and implemented by one person alone, the director). The idea was to create a Corporate Communications structure in a major School Board and my department (and colleagues) were the sacrificial fodder that would fund all the new middle management hired for this corporate "reorg".

[@ringringina]

欣賞式探詢，太棒的案例了，謝謝！

[@jrmypl]

Wow. Powerful.

[@Teobook]

Great presenter

[@sarah29880]

Well done. I think this is so very important

[@positivitystrategist8468]

Most uplifting talk. Thank you. I will use this in my class on AI!

[@Acreative4s]

I know, RSB! Me, too! Reaching out to you very soon, my friend!