Inspired by David Cooperrider at the Conference on Coaching in Medicine and Leadership I am co-director of a new Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School and in September we held our second Harvard Medical School Coaching in Medicine and Leadership Conference. We brought together international coaching leaders to share the theory, research, and science-based practices of coaching with healthcare professionals, executive/leadership coaches, and professional coaches in healthcare. The conference featured speakers from a variety of fields who inspired all of us to move forward vigorously our paths of development and growth so that we are more impactful in helping our coaching clients improve health, well-being, and performance.
David Cooperrider, PhD
The opening keynote, presented by David Cooperrider, PhD, was a call to action for positive change in organizations based on his development of the field of Appreciative Inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a field of practice that grew out of David's work within organizations. Rather than going into an organization, looking at what is wrong, and what to fix, he discovered that the real inspiration for change was found in what was working well within an organization. This was a radical new way creating energy, and discovering best practices, without the typical "blame and shame" approach of most change initiatives.
Appreciative Inquiries
For example, as part of change process, AI practitioners ask questions such as:
- Describe a time when you discovered an inner source of strength and used it to get through a difficult time? Describe the quality in detail. How did it make itself known to you? What did it enable you to do? What did you learn about yourself? What did others say about you as you drew on this source to get through your ordeal? How were you able to draw on this source at other times?
- Describe a time when you were inspired by working with another person or a group where you may not have had the same ideas or opinions as the others, but you really worked together and valued each other. What did you value most about your contribution to this experience? What strengths and assets did you bring? What did you value about the others? What did you discover about people? What did you learn about working with people who had different interests?
- All of us yearn for fulfillment through meaningful work. The most gratifying appreciation is that which is expressed from the heart by active communication, a kind gesture or written words. Describe a time in which you felt extremely appreciated. What is the most meaningful way your contribution is recognized & appreciated?
Seeing the World Anew
Such inquiries plant the seeds of inspiration, which lead the visioning and planning required for radical and positive change. This kind of change, as Einstein said, "...cannot be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew."
Business as Change Agent
David's dream doesn't stop with organizations, however. He has a bold and inspiring vision to bring peace to the world through its business leaders. His latest initiative, The World Inquiry, explores the idea as "Business as an Agent of World Benefit" and uses Appreciative Inquiry to inspire face-to-face dialogue about the role of business in society and to discover the important business-in-society innovations taking place all over the world.
To learn more about AI and David's initiatives, check out:
Next week, I'll introduce Benjamin and Rosamund Zander, authors of "The Art of Possibility", who delighted us with live coaching of a vocalist and a cellist and inspired us to pay attention to the kinds of conversations we have with ourselves...
