How do you introduce Appreciative Inquiry in your organization? The top management of Sherry's company wasn't convinced yet. So it took her some time before she was allowed to organize one of the exchange meetings with the Top Management. Beforehand Sherry was hesitant about bringing in glitter, colouring pencils and other arts and crafts materials. But she let go of presumptions and went for it. After a short introduction the managers couldn’t wait to get their hands on the play-doh and came up with beautiful ideas and stories! One of them used a paper plane as a metaphor for the organisation and its future.

For a big scale meeting with a diverse group including top managers, hospital staff, elderly and members of the council, Sherry themed the environment. She created a special supermarket with actual aisles and different products representing the services that exist in different price ranges. Participants could take there pick from the ‘merchandise’ available. By creating this easy shared language every participant was included in the process.

The 'Roots & Fruits tree' is a easy tool to help rephrase negative thinking into a more positive, ambitious focus. While it acknowlegdes the problems (its not all pink and fluffy), it also helps to create motivation, goals and action. 

Most people have seen the video on YouTube of the dancing 'Lone nut' / 'First follower'. A beautiful example of starting a movement and inspiring others to join in.

Appreciative Inquiry can also help with hardship in your personal life. When others say negative things to you and you start believing it, your mood can spiral down. Try to catch those negative thoughts and use the magic of AI to transform you thinking.