So far, we have looked mostly at problems as just that. Problems. Obstacles to growth. Challenges. Stuff that need fixing.

What happens if we flip that coin over and look instead at what is going right?

Then, do more of that.

This way of looking at a topic was first spearheaded in the mid 1980s, at Case Western Reserve University by David Cooperrider.

A good beginning place to understand this innovative approach is to look to the meaning of the words themselves. To ‘appreciate’ means to value and recognize the attributes or contributions of people and/or things. ‘Inquiry’ means to discover and explore within the energy of being open to new potentials and searching to understand something more deeply.

When you put those two words together and are willing to appreciate what is already valuable and good in the current situation, you then open to learning and discovering new ways to create positive change in moving forward.

Appreciative Inquiry even affects even how you define the situation or topic. Just think about this: if you are looking for what goes right, rather than problems or things that need fixing, you are likely to come up with some very different information about the situation. This is one way of bringing previously unseen or unacknowledged strengths into the foreground where they can be further grown and developed.

The approach is known for its “5 D’s“. These are the five steps needed, to help support you through the Appreciative Inquiry process: Define; Discover; Dream; Design; and Deliver/Destiny.