Day 2

BONUS RECORDING: This session is courtesy of the Uplift OD Conference in Zimbabwe.

Human flourishing will be defined to give meaning and highlight  what it means to  a flourish as a human being.  It encompasses a wide range of things, including physical and mental health, emotional well-being, social connection, and a sense of purpose. Prioritizing  and manifesting human flourishing is important because it leads to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. When people flourish, they are more likely to be productive, engaged citizens. They are also more likely to contribute to the well-being of others. The question on why it is important to prioritise human flourishing will be discussed and how we can manifest human flourishing at individual or societal level.  

The discussion will come up with what  we  can do to prioritize and manifest human flourishing at the individual level and at the societal level to support human flourishing.

At the end of the conversation,  participants will have a deeper understanding of what human flourishing is and why it is important. A variety of ideas and strategies for prioritizing and manifesting human flourishing in their own lives and in their communities. A sense of connection with other people who are also committed to human flourishing. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the topic, share their own thoughts and experiences, and develop new ideas for how to create a more flourishing world.

RECORDING LINK

AI has often been used in organization development because the stories that emerge from appreciative listening and sharing carry insights into the human system's positive core and future possibilities. This session explores how analyzing appreciative reports – both quantitatively and qualitatively – can crystalize our understanding of relationships between key themes, strategic places of high leverage, and priorities for systems change. This has wide-ranging applications in strategic planning and culture-building initiatives.

Through the sharing of case studies and breakout conversations, we will inquire together: what is the highest future possibility of using AI as a research method in different fields of study?

RECORDING LINK

Early childhood education is a crucial touchpoint to sow seeds for human flourishing. Leaders in preschools and early childhood centers need to engage in affirmative conversations with stakeholders, build on their strengths, and present a collective aspiration. A culture of appreciative inquiry for discussions can catalase positive change, impacting children, communities, and the more extensive education system. Through stories from early childhood educators who have applied and taught AI to other educators, this session explores the power of cultivating quality relationships one conversation at a time for system-wide impact. 

RECORDING LINK

This session will equip participants with actionable strategies to achieve bold objectives amid uncertainties and challenges. Dive deep into the dynamics of effective high-performing team development and holistic organizational transformation. Richard Hawkes, CEO of Growth River and Founding Member of Vuka Collective, and Everett Darby, Senior Partner at Growth River and Founding Member of Vuka Collective, will Unveil their Learning Roadmap (part of the Vuka Collective Framework) and share their strength-based journey for transformation.  Gleaning Insights from Navigating the Swirl quot; Richard &'s book becomes a focal point as they discuss practical strategies for spearheading change. A significant emphasis will be on understanding and navigating the social and relational tensions that often act as roadblocks. Participants will also be introduced to Everett &'s comprehensive e-learning module on team alignment. This program equips participants with essential yet practical tools and knowledge to foster and lead cohesive, high-performing teams. We'd like to join us in this enlightening session to equip you with these strategies and tools that redefine how groups and organizations lead whole-system complex change.

RECORDING LINK

This session offers an opportunity to connect with self and others in an intergenerational, safe space. Drawing from an appreciative mode of inquiry into the theme of birth and depth, we will experiment with contemplative writing. This practice aims to liberate daring, purposeful and multi-paradigmatic speculations about what highest futures we are called to give birth to and/or to deepen. Putting words to our own thinking courageously is a promising step in constructing vivid utopias that are right in front of our eyes – the heart of prospective theories in motion. We will reflect on our experience and a brief case study on the potential of this practice for impactful research – the kind that truly builds a better world for all. 

RECORDING LINK

This workshop will apply the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) philosophy and model to co-create ‘next-level practice’ in client delivery, leveraging our strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and desired results at the practitioner/consultant and stakeholder group levels. 

Participants will be introduced to an innovative approach, using the AI model to identify the best format for client delivery to meet stakeholder criteria and needs, with examples of applications across the globe. We propose a framework where the AI process is reflected in your work process with a client, using the AI model to adapt and optimize client service delivery. We will look at this process from multiple levels – Me (the practitioner/consultant), We (the stakeholder group), and finally, Us (the AI collective), leaving participants with a thought experiment to accelerate the global practice of AI and optimize client delivery at scale. 

Participants will walk away with a framework (and questions) to prompt their thinking and actions for developing client proposals and delivery formats that are adaptive and innovative to take their practice to the next level. This workshop is about broadening our thinking and adapting the AI process for optimal client delivery. This is important for developing practitioners’ toolkits for ‘next level practice,’ learning new ways to exceed client expectations despite constraints on time, cost, and participation in delivering Appreciative Inquiry projects. A brief outcomes report summarizing participants’ learnings will be provided following the workshop.

RECORDING LINK

Claudia Gross: From Words of Exclusion and Oppression to a Language of Life and Union - In almost ten years of working within the field of social change through language and transforming narratives, I realized that there are re-occurring themes of exclusion and oppression, be it about people with disabilities and special needs, people of color, or other groups of human beings which are marginalized by the society, structures, and systems.

Formulations like the following express exclusion, oppression, and reframings: Africa is not underdeveloped; it's overly exploited. Human beings are not slaves; they have been enslaved. Disabled restrooms and handicapped parking are accessible restrooms and accessible parking. People are not minorities; they have been minoritized. People are not underrepresented; they have been historically excluded. Language matters!

It's about time to take our language to the next level by moving from a language of exclusion, oppression, supremacy, and patriarchy to an inclusive, life-enhancing language that inspires empathy and union. Come and join this session, get an overview of my recent findings within my heart project, speakGreen, and take practical ideas on an appreciative, inclusive language with you. Let's express the changes we wish to experience day by day and word-for-word!

Suresh Nanwani: Human Connections: Regeneration, Flourishing, and Cherishing - The session focuses on human connections with a tripod approach - regeneration, flourishing, and cherishing, using an appreciative inquiry approach. The 10-minute session starts with a conceptual approach, a case study involving student-teacher in my education development path, and concludes with learning lessons to harness positive energy. 

Marianne Schapmans: Call to gather: welcome weave wonder repeat - MundoRebi is a word without literal translation. It is related to Hygge, Komorebi, Goesting, Firgun, Resfeber... words that express feelings in a specific setting. You can try to describe it, but defining it is impossible. MundoRebi is when you feel a connection flowing and a sparkle and a glint appears in your eyes. MundoRebi occurs in liminal spaces and in between timeframes. You cannot force MundoRebi, but you can invite it. This feeling of connection and wholeness warms our consciousness. It helps to think with our hearts and feel with our minds. MundoRebi touches on the potential that answers a longing for greater humanity. It offers a foothold in moving times and a resonant place where people and answers can find each other. Where a path of possibility emerges. A guild of careful, curious Storyweavers who practice the craft of weaving the encounters of experience and meaning. A weaving between distance and near, between seeing and being seen, yesterday and tomorrow, individual experiences and collective meanings. In this session, we share our hopes and dreams about this practice of storyweaving. 

RECORDING LINK

Some words we discussed:

• MundoRebi: MundoRebi is that moment when you feel a connection flowing and a sparkle, a glint appears in your eyes

• Mentern: Being both a mentor and intern simultaneously

• Addictionary

APPRECIATIVE RELATIONSHIPS: IMPACTS AND RESULTS IN ORGANIZATIONS

At this meeting, you will learn about Appreciative Inquiry, be inspired by successful cases of application in organizations, and experience possible ways to practice. It will be a Local Activation Panel in Curitiba/Brazil, within the international AI JAM. Come cultivate meaningful connections on this in-person panel for some guests and online for subscribers until the 10/19th. This panel will take place in Portuguese.

Appreciative Inquiries can be successful or flounder depending on the quality of the process and intention in the Design and Destiny step. As the curtain falls on this transformative OD gathering hosted by Dr. Justine Chinoperekweyi in Zimbabwe, participants may grapple with their destiny step. In this session, Chris Powell, CEO of Talmetrix and Founding Member of the Vuka Collective, and Mercedes Martin, CEO of Mercedes Martin & Company and Founder of the Vuka Collective - offer participants a roadmap to navigate post-conference momentum through a tailored “preferred future” approach inspired by Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff book Future Search - Getting the whole system in the room for vision commitments and action. Chris shares his integrated assessment framework and strategies as part of the Vuka Collective Framework. This session helps participants transition conference insights into actionable organizational blueprints by transferring themes and insights from the conference. Learn to engage stakeholders, crystallize vision, and carve out actionable paths, ensuring that the echoes of the conference lead to meaningful impact. Whether you're a leader, a change agent, or a passionate team member, this session equips you with tools to channel newfound knowledge into tangible change.

Key Takeaways:

• Methods to collate and reflect on conference insights.

• Techniques for engaging stakeholders in post-conference actions.

• Strategies to transform insights into whole system organizational transformation.

• Blueprint for designing your own Future Search Experience- based on the book Future Search - Getting the Whole System in the Room for Vision, commitment and Action by Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff

Des cadres hospitaliers du CHU de Montpellier racontent comment ils ont créé le premier groupe de facilitateurs internes dans leur établissement : le LAB Appréciatif. Leur ambition : développer une nouvelle culture participative du management basée sur l’intelligence collective en honorant les valeurs du service public. De leur mode de fonctionnement inédit aux résultats obtenus dans les services qu’ils accompagnent, ils partagent leurs avancées et les perspectives pour le système de santé.

The Appreciative LAB walks the talk and takes the floor: how does Montpellier Hospital take care of their teams and their projects with AI.

A group of healthcare managers share their story with AI and how they created the first internal group of AI practitioners in a french hospital: the Appreciative LAB. Their affirmative topic choice : developing a participatory culture of management grounded in collective intelligence while honoring the values of public services. From their modus operandi to the tangible effects of their interventions, they will give inspiring inputs on how it opens new perspectives in the healthcare system.

RECORDING LINK (ideally English translations to come - thank you for your patience)

"How can we flourish the local community through tourism?” That was the central question for the Touristic Flemish (Belgian) region Meetjesland. Since they introduced 6 years ago AI as a method for bringing all stakeholders together (entrepreneurs, inhabitants, policymakers, visitors) to develop a vision for the future, they are still working this way and see the fruits of this approach growing daily. The region learned that an appreciative approach and a positive attitude produce more than thinking about solving problems. An explicit option for a co-creative process whereby thinking together with the local community about what added value tourism can bring to their community, to their neighborhood. "What can we do together so that tourism can contribute to the destination's and community's prosperity?" Last year, we wrote a 'travel report - on the road towards a Flourishing Destination in Meetjesland,' wherein we describe the process of the last years and the methods used to inspire other tourist regions and local communities. We want to present this travel report during the session in an interactive way.

RECORDING LINK

Appreciative Inquiry is a powerful approach to Leadership, and supplementing it with a range of proven creativity tools will further strengthen the results you can achieve. This session shows you how to incorporate Positive Creativity Leadership, a strategic combination of AI and the Science of Creativity, in your work and personal life. We use an interactive style to share the scientific background, proven case studies, and tools you can use to get started quickly. Suppose you are looking for some ways to amplify your work or help others to increase their impact as a leader. In that case, this session will address both the mindset and behavior changes made possible through incorporating deliberate creativity in your AI practice. 

• Part 1 RECORDING LINK

• Part 2 RECORDING LINK

This sessions designed to address how practitioners can find a common foundation to achieve design and delivery to open inquiry to others that leads to measurable results and a foundation of innovative disruption that is authentically inclusive even if the stories and dialogue are uncomfortable.

When we think about a story that brings in the uncomfortable or disruptive conversation(s), What ways can we instill confidence with all present to trust that those in the process do not intend harm, seek to care for each participants experience and trust that each experience of this work cares for every persons interest and that participants own that they represent those from "difference" who are involved in the inquiry and their interest even when they are not present.

We will utilize Design and Deliver of the 4-D, with action plan templates to create a foundation for AI/DEI and Belonging work for practitioners. 

• RECORDING LINK

• Jamboard for this session

I will share three cases: an experience of AI mediation, as leaders from Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda disagreed on how to move forward. I will share a summit with 300 participants from schools from all over Spain to decide how to move forward, as the owners and founders are becoming old or passing away. I will share the training with 145 leaders from 40 schools from 12 countries in Latin America on how to change from patriarchal, hierarchical leadership to inclusive, appreciative leadership.

Casos de éxito de aplicación de la IA en sistemas educativos y en congregaciones.

Compartiré tres casos: una experiencia de mediación de Indagación Apreciativa, cuando líderes de Kenia, Malawi y Uganda no estaban de acuerdo sobre cómo avanzar. Compartiré una cumbre presencial con 300 participantes de colegios de toda España para decidir cómo seguir adelante, ya que los propietarios y fundadores se hacen mayores, enferman o fallecen. Compartiré la capacitación con 145 líderes de 40 escuelas de 12 países de América Latina sobre cómo cambiar del liderazgo patriarcal y jerárquico a un liderazgo inclusivo y apreciativo.

RECORDING LINK

Sharing some illustrative situations where Talking Circle and AI have helped groups reveal their knowledge and deep aspirations. Where generative conversation spaces have increased mutual understanding and desire to work together and followed by an appreciative Talking Circle with the participants. 

In this session, I propose sharing an in-depth walk-through of the Appreciative Inquiry whole-system intervention with Ni Uno Mas, a youth-run nonprofit organization in Panama. This project earned me a distinguished mastery-level badge in Positive OD and systemic Change. The event will include beginning-to-end design, tips for planning sessions on session lab, how this group went through each D in the 4 D cycle, and design and deployment. 

RECORDING LINK

Hosts- Akkie Okma, Cees Hoogendijk, Joep C. de Jong, Koen Joly, Miriam Subirana, Reto Dieizi, Yvonne Bonner

Active members of the Eu AI network, a network alive for more than 20 years, will share their experiences and be open to any question you may have on the network and beyond. It is an interactive open to emergence session. 

RECORDING LINK  ( Passcode: X59#Ar!X )

Best Road Trip Ever: How stories of the journey can connect us across time and space. This workshop is a bite-sized piece of a client engagement that demonstrates the power of appreciative inquiry to set the stage for deep connection and powerfully creating futures. We invite participants along for the ride to explore their own best of travel experiences and unlock the deeper meaning of this human journey we’re all on– no matter where we live, work, or play in the world. Your hosts, Dr. Nicole and Jennifer will also reveal how this activity was just part of a larger Appreciative Inquiry designed meeting of public health professionals designing the next stage of their local impact stories and what happened in the organization following the engagement. Learn how they took the theme deep with props, art, and music to create a truly immersive experience that mattered.

• Recording Link

• Destination Guide

• Playlist

The session offers a space in Spanish for participants to experience the power of appreciative reframing by turning limiting emotions into generative emotions, especially in difficult circumstances. Consists in: . 5 minutes: conceptual framework in plenary . 30 minutes: practice in small groups . 15 minutes: share learnings obtained from the practice (in plenary) . 10 minutes: wrap-up. 

RECORDING LINK (Passcode: ?EgqAW72 )

Unlock the full potential of positive change in this dynamic 60-minute workshop, where we will delve deep into seamlessly merging Appreciative Inquiry (AI) with trauma-informed (TI) principles. Gain a profound understanding of how these two transformative methodologies synergize to amplify your impact, especially if you're involved in coaching, leadership, or organizational development. In this engaging session, you won't just learn; you'll actively participate in thought-provoking discussions and hands-on breakout room activities. Discover how to elevate your practice, foster psychological safety, and create profound, enduring transformations, all while avoiding unintentional triggers for your audience. This is your chance to refine your skills, ensuring that your work makes an even greater difference in the lives of individuals and organizations. Don't miss out on this opportunity to empower yourself and elevate your ability to drive positive change. The presenter will share her white paper: How to Achieve Real, Lasting, and Positive Change by combining AI and TI. 

• RECORDING LINK ( Passcode: 5J%G9.#f )

• SLIDES

Federico Varona-  The Appreciative Paradigm. From Methodology to Paradigm  - I will introduce: The Appreciative Paradigm and its 5 Components: 1) Appreciative Ontology, 2) Appreciative Epistemology/Research (Inquiry), 3) Appreciative Praxis/Methodology for human/social change (Appreciative Inquiry), 4) Appreciative Axiology; and 5) Appreciative Language. 

Ryan Samia- Mentoring Circles: Unlocking Synergies for Success - Highlight company's Mentoring Circles Program including overall program objectives, purpose, and why to include developing Team Members, fostering stronger networks, connections, and collaboration. Share how the program balances structure and flexibility, and can be adapted based on business or community needs. Emphasize participant feedback, surveys, and testimonials about how the program provides a space to build meaningful relationships among mentors and mentees. Connect the program to the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive network. This is a group mentoring program that enables Team Members to engage with VPs and 8-10 Team Members. Mentoring Circles focus areas will be based on TSC’s six core competencies: Instills Trust, Collaborates, Drives Results, Self-Development, Customer Focus, and Values Differences. The purpose and objectives of the program are: Provide support to Team Members in their career development goals. Develop our Team Members in areas that unlock their full potential. Expand and strengthen our talent pipeline. Help Team Members build TSC’s core competencies. Foster stronger networks, connections, and collaboration across the business.

Jeanie Cockell & Joan McArthur-Blair- Old White Women, Lesbians, AI Practitioners - In the face of rising hate toward LGBTQ2S+ persons it becomes more and more interesting to be an appreciative inquiry practitioner, an old woman of privilege, a lesbian and a radical feminist. This TAD talk is an invitation to explore with us the places we reside in life and how those places influence our profound commitment to the practice of appreciative inquiry as a path to building a more inclusive and peaceful world. There will be poetry, stories, time to throw out quick anecdotes --- maybe even humor...

RECORDING LINK

Organizational investment in coaching has grown substantially in recent years, with good reason: Businesses need managers who can lead teams through change, stress and economic upheaval. And executive coaching can prepare leaders and leadership teams for transition and growth and help them level up their management skills.

However, a growing body of research indicates that focusing on coaching without coachability may prove costly. Highly coachable leaders have been found to foster greater levels of employee engagement and retention, and research shows highly coachable individuals achieve significantly higher levels of performance, agility, inclusion, and promotability.

SLIDES

Unlock the full potential of positive change in this dynamic 60-minute workshop, where we will delve deep into seamlessly merging Appreciative Inquiry (AI) with trauma-informed (TI) principles. Gain a profound understanding of how these two transformative methodologies synergize to amplify your impact, especially if you're involved in coaching, leadership, or organizational development. In this engaging session, you won't just learn; you'll actively participate in thought-provoking discussions and hands-on breakout room activities. Discover how to elevate your practice, foster psychological safety, and create profound, enduring transformations, all while avoiding unintentional triggers for your audience. This is your chance to refine your skills, ensuring that your work makes an even greater difference in the lives of individuals and organizations. Don't miss out on this opportunity to empower yourself and elevate your ability to drive positive change. The presenter will share her white paper: How to Achieve Real, Lasting, and Positive Change by combining AI and TI. 

• RECORDING

• SLIDES