Appreciative Interviews (AI)
Appreciative Interviews (AI) leverage the power of storytelling to uncover and amplify success within organizations. By focusing on what works well, this method creates a positive atmosphere and encourages participants to share stories of achievement, fostering a deeper understanding of the conditions that lead to success.
How to run it
- 1
Invite participants to pair up with someone they don't know well and ask them to share a story about a successful collaborative challenge they are proud of.
- 2
Arrange the space with chairs for face-to-face pairs, ensuring no tables are needed.
- 3
Instruct pairs to conduct interviews, with each participant sharing their story and noting the conditions that enabled success. Allow 7-10 minutes per person.
- 4
Form groups of four and have each member retell their partner's story, focusing on identifying patterns and conditions that supported success. Allocate 15 minutes for this step.
- 5
Collect insights and patterns on a flip chart for the whole group to see, summarizing key points if necessary. Spend 10-15 minutes on this.
- 6
Conclude with a group discussion using the 1-2-4-All method, exploring how to invest in conditions that foster success and identifying opportunities for further improvement.
Tips
Encourage participants to focus on positive stories to generate energy and engagement.
Remind them to listen without judgment and to let go of preconceived notions.
Make sure the stories and patterns are visible to everyone, as this helps in recognizing success factors collectively.
Variations
Consider graphically recording story titles and conditions on a large wall tapestry to visualize success patterns. You might also expand groups to eight participants for a broader exchange of stories. Follow up with discussions on essential practices needed for future success.
Where it fits
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Liberating Structures. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.