Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry is a strengths-based approach that allows for the discovery and development of the assets of a team or organisation. By following the steps Discover, Dream, Design, and Deliver, it fosters engagement and motivation while facilitating change management.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction and context

   10 min

   The facilitator begins by explaining the concept of Appreciative Inquiry and its importance in valuing the team's strengths. They present the four stages of the process: Discover, Dream, Design, and Deliver. Participants are invited to ask questions to clarify the framework and objectives of the workshop.

   Tip — Use concrete examples of past successes to illustrate the positive impact of Appreciative Inquiry.

2. 2

   Discover Phase

   20 min

   Participants are invited to form sub-groups and share success stories they have experienced within the team or organisation. The facilitator asks: 'What worked particularly well? Why?'. Each group notes common themes and success factors on post-its.

   Tip — Encourage participants to focus on positive emotions and moments of pride.

3. 3

   Dream Phase

   20 min

   Participants envision the ideal future of the team or organisation, based on the identified strengths. The facilitator poses the question: 'What would our organisation look like if these successes were the norm?'. Groups draw or write their visions on large sheets of paper.

   Tip — Stimulate creativity by providing visual tools, such as coloured pencils or magazines for collage-making.

4. 4

   Design Phase

   30 min

   Participants work together to design concrete strategies that will realise the shared visions. The facilitator guides the discussion with: 'What changes do we need to make to achieve our dream?'. Ideas are prioritised and organised into an action plan.

   Tip — Use an impact/effort matrix to help prioritise the actions to be taken.

5. 5

   Deliver Phase

   20 min

   Each group presents its action plan to the rest of the team. The facilitator encourages constructive feedback and questions to refine the plans. Participants commit to the first steps to implement and define success indicators.

   Tip — Capture commitments on a visible board to reinforce collective accountability.

6. 6

   Closure

   10 min

   The facilitator thanks the participants for their engagement and creativity. They summarise the key points of the workshop and the next steps. Participants are invited to share a word or phrase about what they take away from the experience.

   Tip — End on a positive note by highlighting the collective energy and future prospects.

Variants

• Use digital tools like Miro for remote groups.
• Add an intermediate feedback step after each phase to adjust actions.
• Integrate a team-building activity to strengthen cohesion before starting.