Appreciative inquiry into my leadership practice

In Semester 2, 2016, I completed PROF504 Inquiry into Organisations and Communities at the University of Waikato.

Through the process of Appreciative Inquiry I looked into examples of when I am leading at my best.

There are four parts to the AI process:

I developed four key essence statements around my leadership practice. These are:

• My leadership is founded on care and consideration of context to create supportive and sustainable improvement.

• I frame big picture challenges to build confidence and knowledge, drawing on a flexible research base.

• My leadership provides a joint strengths based approach to turn theory into practice. This results in practical growth application.

• I take a responsive approach to community collaboration to open genuine, reflective dialogue that values the voice of all. 

My essence statements that were developed under the Design section were reflected upon using Hammond’s (2013, p.30) questions about provocative propositions:

1. Is it provocative? Does it stretch, challenge, motivate?

2. Is it grounded in examples?

3. Is it what we want? Is there enough of the "how" so that it is achievable? Will people defend it or get passionate about it?

4. Is it stated in affirmative, bold terms and in present tense (as if it is already happening)?

5. Can we deliver it? How can we best ensure delivery?

Recommended readings on Appreciative Inquiry

• • Carr-Stewart, S. & Walker, K. (2003). Learning leadership through appreciative inquiry. Management in Education, 17(2), 9-14.

  • Cooperrider, D. & Whitney, D. (2008).  Appreciative inquiry handbook [Kindle edition]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/

  • Cooperrider, D. & Whitney, D. (2010).  Appreciative inquiry: A positive revolution in change. [Kindle edition]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/

  • Giles, D. & Alderson, S. (2008). An appreciative inquiry into the transformative learning experiences of students in a family literacy project. Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 48(3), 465-478.

• Hammond, S.A. (2013). The thin book of appreciative inquiry. [Kindle edition]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/

  • Ludema, J.D, Bernard, J.M., Whitney, D. & Griffin, T. J. (2003).  The appreciative inquiry summit: A practitioner’s guide for leading large group change. [Kindle edition]. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks

  • McNae, R. with MacKay, J. (2013). In their wor(l)ds: Embarking on appreciative inquiry to enhance student learning, SET 3, 29-36.