Keynote presented at the #2012waic Conference - Ghent, Belgium

1.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org

2.
Thomas
Jefferson
“Every
organization
needs
a
positive
revolution.”
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
2

3. Dream
Catcher
You
must
learn
to
live
and
work
in
the
Energetically
Positive.
Understand
and
do
what
gives
life
to
the
people.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
3

4.
Apprecia)ve
Leadership:
The
Nexus
of
Three
Revolu)onary
Fields
Appreciative
Inquiry
Positive
Strengths
Psychology
Movement
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
4

5. The
Leadership
Challenge
Today
— IBM
Global
Chief
Executive
Officer
Study
2010.
— Over
1500
CEOs
Worldwide
Interviewed.
— Biggest
challenge:
complexity
of
a
global
environment.
— Single
most
important
leadership
competency:
creativity.
— Successful
organizations
co-­‐create
products
and
services
with
customers.
They
integrate
customers
into
core
business
processes.
— Better
performing
organizations
manage
complexity
through
operational
dexterity.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
5

6. Apprecia)ve
Inquiry:
A
Process
for
the
Age
of
Co-­‐Crea)vity
— Many
leaders
today
have
visions
and
values
that
are
incongruent
with
old
paradigm
methodologies.
— They
are
in
search
of
new
paradigm
processes
and
methodologies
for
leadership,
innovation
and
change.
— Appreciative
Inquiry
answers
the
call.
— What
problem
solving
was
to
the
industrial
age;
Appreciative
Inquiry
is
to
the
co-­‐creative
age.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
6

7.
Appreciative
Inquiry
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
7

8. AI
Invites
a
Reconfigura)on
of
…
1. Logics
and
Language
— From
Deficit
to
Strength
Based
Logics
and
Language
— Root
Cause
of
Success,
WWW,
Positive
Problem
Solving
2. Lens
on
Performance
— From
Individualistic,
Behavioral
Lens
to
a
Systemic,
Relational
Lens
3. Ways
of
Knowing
and
Evidence
— To
Quantitative
Metrics
we
add
Qualitative
Experiences,
Personal
Stories
and
Metaphors
4. Voice
of
Authority
— From
Few
to
Many
to
the
Whole
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
8

9. Leadership
Narra)ves
— Systemic
and
relational,
not
individualistic.
— Leadership
of
this
conference…
— Leaders
of
this
conference…
— Are
about
how
and
why
things
happen
–
or
don’t.
— Performances,
Strategies,
Ways
of
Doing
Things,
Processes,
Resources,
Relationships
and
Results
What
is
your
Story
of
Leadership
of
Successful
Appreciative
Inquiry
Initiatives?
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
9

10. A
Mini
Interview
(5
minutes
each)
— Turn
to
one
other
person
and
ask:
— Reflect
upon
a
successful
AI
initiative
and
its
Leadership.
It
can
be
a
project
you
have
been
part
of,
or
one
that
you
have
heard
about
–
large
or
small.
Tell
me
about
it.
— Describe
the
leadership.
— How
did
leadership
contribute
to
this
success?
— How
did
it
bring
out
the
best
of
the
people
involved?
— What
do
you
most
respect
about
this
leadership?
— What
words
and
phrases
best
describe
this
leadership?
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
10

11. What
are
some
of
the
most
innovative
and
meaningful
words
and
phrases
that
you
heard
used
to
describe
Leadership?
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
11

12. Leadership
of
Successful
AI
Ini)a)ves
— Active
participation
of
people
at
all
levels
and
functions
with
other
members
of
their
organization
and
community
to
create
a
better
way.
— Openness
and
enjoyment
in
the
surprise
of
learning.
— Caring
about
people.
The
purpose
of
their
organization
as
helping
people
develop
and
have
a
better
life.
— Truly
believe
and
practice
the
power
of
the
positive.
Diana
Whitney
www.positivechange.org
12

13.
Our
Research:
What
kind
of
leadership
brings
out
your
best
and
creates
a
high
performance
work
environment?
Answer:
Posi)ve
Power
Making
a
Positive
Difference
Recognition
&
Appreciation
Focus
on
What
Works
Well
Positive
Attitudes
&
Emotions
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
13

14. Apprecia)ve
Leadership
“The
relational
capacity
to
mobilize
creative
potential
and
turn
it
into
positive
power,
setting
in
motion
ripples
of
confidence,
energy,
enthusiasm,
and
performance
that
make
a
positive
difference
in
the
world.”
Whitney,
Trosten-­‐Bloom
and
Rader
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
14

15. Apprecia)ve
Leadership:
Five
Rela)onal
Strategies
Inquiry
Illumination
Inclusion
Inspiration
Integrity
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
15

16.
The
Wisdom
of
INQUIRY
Leadership
by
Asking
Posi)vely
Powerful
Ques)ons
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
16

17.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
17

18.
“Tell
me
about
the
river
that
connects
you.”
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
18

19.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
19

20. The
Genius
of
INCLUSION
Leadership
by
Engaging
with
People
“Don’t
Talk
About
Me
Without
Me”
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
20

21. The
Quest
for
Uniqueness
Inquiry
into
the
unique
values,
strengths,
hopes
and
dreams
of
seemingly
different
people
is
what
generates
collective
wisdom,
and
leads
to
the
Genius
of
the
Whole.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
21

22. An
Improbable
Group
— Idaho
State
Department
of
Education
— AI
Summit
–
250
People
— Focus:
Educational
Services
for
Students
who
are
Deaf
and
Blind
— Sub-­‐Text:
Should
we
close
the
school?
— Who
would
you
include?
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
22

23. Who
Would
You
Include?
— Teachers
— Parents
— School
Administrators
— Family
Members
— Students
–
Blind
and
Deaf
— Community
Members
— Adults
–
Blind
and
Deaf
— Local
Board
of
Education
— Governor’s
Office
— State
Dept.
of
Education
— Advocacy
Groups
— State
Legislators
— Educators
at
all
Levels
— Sign
Interpreters
— Other
States
Facing
— Guide
Dogs
Similar
Issues
— The
Public
— Others?
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
23

24. Outcomes
— Consensus
Decision
to
Keep
the
School
— Set
of
Agreed
Upon
Recommendations
to
the
State
Department
of
Education
— Acceptance
and
Budgeting
of
the
Recommendations
by
the
State
Legislature
— Significantly
Strengthened
Relationships
— Greater
Parental
Involvement
— Improved
Services
for
Deaf
and
Blind
Students
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
24

25.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
25

26.
Strengths
Movement
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
26

27. Strengths
“Near
perfect
— Feel
easy.
performance
in
an
— Increase
excellence,
success,
activity.”
productivity.
— Provide
a
sense
of
joy,
flow,
energy,
and
fulfillment.
Now,
Discover
Your
Strengths
Buckingham
and
Clifton
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
27

28. Excellent
Performers
— Are
rarely
well-­‐rounded.
— They
capitalize
on
their
strengths.
— They
minimize
their
weaknesses.
— Each
person’s
greatest
room
for
growth
is
in
his
or
her
areas
of
greatest
strengths.
Now,
Discover
Your
Strengths
Buckingham
and
Clifton
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
28

29. Strengths:
Traits
or
Narra)ves?
Labels
Stories
At
my
best…
I
am…
I
might
say…
You
are…
You
might
say…
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
29

30. The
Art
of
ILLUMINATION
Leadership
by
Bringing
Out
the
Best
of
People
&
Situations
‘Interpretative
Generosity’
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
30

31. Prac)ce:
Strengths
SpoXng
Thanks
to
Peter
Lang
and
Elspeth
McAdam,
KCC,
UK
1. Select
a
partner
–
improbable
partner.
2. Ask
your
partner
to
tell
you
a
success
story.
3. Listen
to
discover
your
partners
strengths.
4. Reflect
those
strengths
back
to
your
partner.
Reverse
Roles
4
Minutes
Each
-­‐
Total
Time
8
minutes
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
31

32.
Leadership
Strengths
SpoXng
Inquiry
1. Tell
me
about
a
personal
leadership
success,
something
that
you
have
done
in
the
past
few
months
or
year,
that
gave
you
great
satisfaction
and
pride.
1. What
did
you
do?
2. Who
or
what
gave
you
the
idea
to
do
this?
3. Who
else
was
involved
and
how
did
you
relate
to
them?
4. What
else
did
you
do?
5. Tell
me
more
about
what
you
did
to
make
this
a
success.
2. Based
upon
your
success
story,
I
would
say
that
some
of
your
leadership
strengths
are…
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
32

33.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
33

34.
Positive
Psychology
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
34

35. Posi)vity
Broaden
and
Build
Theory
Dr.
Barbara
Fredrickson
— Broadens
Peoples’
Attention
and
Thinking
— Undoes
Lingering
Negative
Emotional
Arousal
— Creates
Resiliency
to
Change
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
35

36. More
of
Fredrickson’s
Research
Posi)ve
Emo)ons
&
Performance
Joy……….……...play,
imagination,
experimentation
à
Innovation
Interest…...involvement,
investigate,
explore
à
New
Knowledge
Optimism.....opportunity,
confidence,
persevere
à
Achievement
Contentment...savor,
integrate
complex
ideas
à
Deeper
Insight
Love……………..….……….………………connect,
relate
à
Cooperation
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
36

37.
Posi)vity
Ra)o
=
Flourishing
“People
flourish
in
the
presence
of
positive
emotions
and
positive
communication.”
The
Healthy
Range
is
4+
:
1-­‐
-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐
11+
:
1-­‐
Marcial
Losada,
Chile
Successful
Teams
5+:1-­‐
John
and
Julie
Gottman,
Seattle,
WA
Long
Term
Successful
Marriages
5+:1-­‐
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
37

38. The
Courage
of
INSPIRATION
Leadership
by
Awakening
the
Creative
Spirit
Achievement,
change
and
innovation
are
all
correlated
to
positive
emotions.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
38

39. The
choice
is
yours…
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
39

40. We
Are
All
In)mately
Connected.
— Our
questions,
words
and
choices
are
fateful.
— They
create
ripples.
— Large
or
small,
conscious
or
unconscious,
they
influence
our
lives
and
the
lives
of
others.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
40

41. The
Path
of
INTEGRITY
Leadership
by
Making
Choices
for
the
Good
of
the
Whole
Whole
=
Integral
=
Integrated
=
Complete
=
Wholeness
Healthy
=
Healed
=
Holy
=
Sacred
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
41

42.
“To
be
on
the
path
of
Integrity
is
to
be
moving,
growing
and
evolving
toward
wholeness;
and
to
be
supporting
and
enabling
others
to
do
the
same.”
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
42

43.
“Make
a
career
of
humanity…You
will
make
a
greater
person
of
yourself,
a
greater
nation
of
your
country,
and
a
finer
world
to
live
in.”
Rev.
Martin
Luther
King,
Jr.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
43

44.
Five
Strategies
of
Apprecia)ve
Leadership
1. Inquiry:
Ask
Positively
Powerful
Questions.
2. Inclusion:
Invite
Improbable
Participation.
3. Illumination:
Be
a
Strengths
Spotter.
4. Inspiration:
Maintain
a
5/1
Positivity
Ratio.
5. Integrity:
Make
a
Career
of
Humanity.
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
44

45.
To
keep
the
conversa)on
going…
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
diana@positivechange.org
Corporation
for
Positive
Change
www.positivechange.org
— Consulting
— AI
Workshops/Training/Certification
— Leadership
Development
— Keynote
Speaking
Twitter:
DianaWhitneyPhD
LinkedIn
Group:
Positive
Change
Practitioners
Diana
Whitney,
Ph.D.
www.positivechange.org
45