These team exercises are based on the Appreciative Inquiry approach to organizational change. The approach developed as an alternative to conventional problem-solving and seeks to build on what works well rather than get stuck in the mess of what is going wrong in a situation. It was a precursor, along with the positive psychology research movement, to 'strengths-based' or 'asset-based' models of individual and organizational development1. You can find out more evidence about the importance of optimism for effective teams and leaders here.
Appreciative inquiry seeks to improve teams by building on what works well. There are usually four stages:
- Discovery: working together to identify what is happening when the team works well
- Vision: using what was identified in the discovery phase, along with new ideas, to imagine what might work well in the future
- Design: working out how best to make this happen
- Implementation: putting it into practice
Here are a couple of practical exercises you can do as a team based on the AI approach:
Appreciative Inquiry team exercise 1
Discuss the following questions as a team:
- What do we do well now? What makes that possible?
- Understanding how we expect our situation to change, what can we best do to thrive in the future?
- How can we play to our strengths in planning and implementing our desired future?
Appreciative Inquiry team exercise 1
- Reflect together on what you do best as a team
- What skills and knowledge are you using to help you achieve this?
- How can you apply your skills and knowledge to other areas?
1. See, for example, Cooperrider, D et al, 2008, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2nd ed.) Brunswick, OH: Crown Custom Publishing. For Positive psychology, see Seligman, M, 2011, Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being.;New York: Free Press.