The Take

Last Saturday, I participated in a fantastic presentation on Appreciative Inquiry (AI) by Robyn Stratton-Berkessel. Even though I became familiar with this methodology some years ago, Robyn reminded me of the importance of continuously looking for the best in people: in their organisations and in the world around them. Robyn’s second book: “Appreciative Inquiry for Collaborative Solutions: 21 Strength-based Workshops” was published in March this year.

AI is probably one of the best methodologies to facilitate change. In simple terms it is about asking the questions about what we value in order to build on what we have discovered. While listening to Robyn, I immediately thought about the brain having a bias towards the negatives more than the positives.

Biologically, it is possible that we are wired this way for self-preservation. However, in our daily lives, at work and at home, looking for problems and focusing on them can make the problems bigger than they really are.

Have you ever found yourself in meetings where people keep dwelling on how bad things are, how difficult it is to implement ideas, or, how little accountability others demonstrate.

I think the majority of us participate in these types of situations regularly. This has implications on our health and well being as it creates an environment of concern, worry and unnecessary stress.

Using AI questions such as “What is going well around here”,  “What ideas do you have that can be shared with others” and so on. Asking this type of question diverts the focus of attention and creates a more positive energy which can be channeled to find practical solutions.

Perhaps an extreme but good example of AI in action is the case of thirty unemployed workers who decided to restart the machines of an abandoned factory, following Argentina’s dramatic economic collapse in 2001. Director Avi Lewis, one of Canada’s most outspoken journalists and writer Naomi Klein produced the documentary called “The Take” to tell this story.

The workers occupied the factory of this bankrupt business creating new jobs in the ruins of the failed system. Their purpose was merely to continue using their skills and keep working to feed their families.

Facing the consequences of having to deal with courts, police and politicians, they decided to work in fixing up the factory and machinery and restarting production.

They did not sit to dwell on the difficulties they were facing. Instead, they organised themselves and developed a new cooperative business model. Years later, they are still working and they have the support of the customers and their community.

Despite all odds, they succeeded as they focused on the solution and not on the problem.