Organizations seeking to change HOW they work use consider Appreciative Inquiry. The Appreciative Inquiry approach evaluates various viewpoints to create an evolutionary path for the future. It leverages brainstorming, prioritizing, sub-teams, and various other tools we’ve explained in other Best Practices articles, putting them in the context of:
“ . . . study and exploration of what gives life to human systems when they function at their best.”
(see Whitney, The Power of Appreciative Inquiry)
Appreciative Inquiry: Explore the Possibilities
Four Phase Method
First of all, the Appreciative Inquiry approach provides a detailed prescriptive method of information gathering and documentation. Therefore, it requires training and mentoring to learn it and conduct it well. Consider the Appreciative Inquiry approach when you have been properly trained—and your organization seeks far-reaching change.
Its four phases are known as the 4-D model. Consequently, once scope has been determined or is provided, as in the case of many non-governmental organizations (NGO), its phases include:
- Discovery—search and illuminate those factors that give life to the organization, the “best of what is” for the purpose of the organization.
- Dream—about what could be.
- Design—the future through dialogue, finding common ground by sharing discoveries and possibilities, and seeking a common purpose.
- Destiny—construct the future through discipline, innovation, and action.
Comments on Appreciative Inquiry
Because this method emphasizes an appreciative view of what has been true in the past (e.g., successes, assets, etc.), fundamental change demands a natural baseline. As a result, Appreciative Inquiry encourages a thorough, diligent, and open exploration of what could be true for the organization, once freed from judgment and prejudice.
This method values collaboration at the expense of command-control habits, making it highly amenable to technological change. Appreciative Inquiry workshops span from two days to two weeks, or longer. They rely on many of the tools we have discussed in other newsletters and found in the MGRUSH curriculum. However, consider using a professional who specializes in Appreciative Inquiry or can be made readily available as your mentor.
Appreciative Inquiry recognizes that inquiry and change are occurring simultaneously. Inquiry catalyzes change—the things people think and talk about, the things people discover and learn. Therefore, inquiry captures the things that inform dialogue and inspire action through the questions we ask. See the originators Whitney and Watkins for additional reading.
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Lead the Change—One Meeting at a Time
Are you ready to transform how decisions are made, problems are solved, and alignment is built in your organization?
True meeting leadership goes beyond setting an agenda. It requires a facilitator who can navigate complexity, balance voices, and drive toward outcomes with clarity and consensus. Our Professional Meeting Leadership Workshop equips you to do just that—blending human-centric methods with structured analytical tools to foster rigor, inclusivity, and results that stick.
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(Limited availability)
Because every meeting should be a catalyst for change—not just another calendar event.
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And earn up to 40 professional development credits.
- CDUs (IIBA)
- CLPs (Federal Acquisition)
- PDUs (SAVE International)
- SEUs (Scrum Alliance)
- 4.0 CEUs (General Professions)
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With Bookmarks no longer a feature in WordPress, we provide the following for your benefit and reference.
- 20 Prioritization Techniques = https://foldingburritos.com/product-prioritization-techniques/
- Creativity Techniques = https://www.mycoted.com/Category:Creativity_Techniques
- Facilitation Training Calendar = https://mgrush.com/public-facilitation-training-calendar/
- Liberating Structures = http://www.liberatingstructures.com/ls-menu
- Management Methods = https://www.valuebasedmanagement.net
- Newseum = https://www.freedomforum.org/todaysfrontpages/
- People Search = https://pudding.cool/2019/05/people-map/
- Project Gutenberg = http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
- Scrum Events Agendas = https://mgrush.com/blog/scrum-facilitation/
- Speed test = https://www.speedtest.net/result/8715401342
- Teleconference call = https://youtu.be/DYu_bGbZiiQ
- The Size of Space = https://neal.fun/size-of-space/
- Thiagi/ 400 ready-to-use training games = http://thiagi.net/archive/www/games.html
- Visualization methods = http://www.visual-literacy.org/periodic_table/periodic_table.html#
- Walking Gorilla = https://youtu.be/vJG698U2Mvo
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Terrence Metz, president of MG RUSH Facilitation Training, was just 22-years-old and working as a Sales Engineer at Honeywell when he recognized a widespread problem—most meetings were ineffective and poorly led, wasting both time and company resources. However, he also observed meetings that worked. What set them apart? A well-prepared leader who structured the session to ensure participants contributed meaningfully and achieved clear outcomes.
Throughout his career, Metz, who earned an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern University) experienced and also trained in various facilitation techniques. In 2004, he purchased MG RUSH where he shifted his focus toward improving established meeting designs and building a curriculum that would teach others how to lead, facilitate, and structure meetings that drive results. His expertise in training world-class facilitators led to the 2020 publication of Meetings That Get Results: A Guide to Building Better Meetings, a comprehensive resource on effectively building consensus.
Grounded in the principle that “nobody is smarter than everybody,” the book details the why, what, and how of building consensus when making decisions, planning, and solving problems. Along with a Participant’s Guide and supplemental workshops, it supports learning from foundational awareness to professional certification.
Metz’s first book, Change or Die: A Business Process Improvement Manual, tackled the challenges of process optimization. His upcoming book, Catalyst: Facilitating Innovation, focuses on meetings and workshops that don’t simply end when time runs out but conclude with actionable next steps and clear assignments—ensuring progress beyond discussions and ideas.
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