I recently used the cards with the CIO Board of a large international company about to embark on a new IT strategy that essentially involves cultural change in the organization, and in their relationship with the organization. This is the first time I have used them.
The board is a relatively new team.
Ways to use Positive Psychology Concept Cards: Ten ideas to get you started
General
You can use these cards in a number of ways to stimulate discussion; create commonality and motivation; and to identify agreed action. Some general ideas are:
I recently met Dr. Gervase R. Bushe (Professor of Leadership and Organisational Development at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Frasier University, Vancouver), a leading expert on Appreciative Inquiry and associate with numerous consulting groups, as well as author of ‘Clear Leadership: Sustaining Real Collaboration and Partnership at Work’ (Davies Black: London), and gave him a copy of my book. He was very complimentary and gracious enough to send me an endorsement which I have included below.
Endorsement of ‘Positive Psychology at Work: How Positive Leadership and Appreciative Inquiry Create Inspiring Organizations’. By Sarah Lewis, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.
Reviewed by Gervase R. Bushe
Barack Obama famously crowd-sourced the finance for his election campaign, a powerful example of the ability of new technology to create a great aggregate result out of lots of small voluntary actions. But this process is not as new as it seems: Sir James Murray used a similar approach to creating the Oxford English Dictionary, a project he began in 1897.
Sarah Lewis is a consultant and facilitator who has been working with organisations (public and private) for almost twenty years as the head of Appreciating Change (formerly Jemstone Consultancy). She specialises in using Appreciative Inquiry and other positive psychology techniques to help organisations change to meet new challenges without developing ‘resistance to change’ from their employees. She is highly respected and well known in her field and is the author of two books in this area: ‘Appreciative Inquiry for Change Management’ and ‘Positive Psychology at Work’.
In January of this year Appreciating Change first began offering fellow change practitioners the chance to attend a series of one day masterclasses presented by Sarah on a variety of themes where they can draw on her vast practical experience and knowledge in the field of organisational change.
Sarah Lewis is a consultant and facilitator who has been working with organisations (public and private) for almost twenty years as the head of Appreciating Change (formerly Jemstone Consultancy). She specialises in using Appreciative Inquiry and other positive psychology techniques to help organisations change to meet new challenges without developing ‘resistance to change’ from their employees. She is highly respected and well known in her field and is the author of two books in this area: ‘Appreciative Inquiry for Change Management’ and ‘Positive Psychology at Work’.
In January of this year Appreciating Change first began offering leaders in organisations the chance to attend a series of one day masterclasses presented by Sarah on a variety of themes where they can draw on her vast practical experience and knowledge in the field of organisational change.
At a conference attended by over 500 people from 42 nations, with 9 keynotes by names like David Cooperrider, Diane Whitney, Ken Gergen, Gervase Bushe and Ron Fry, and innumerable workshop sessions and poster presentations, my experience of the conference could only ever be partial. Here are some of the best bits for me.
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Interested in learning about an approach to organisational change that really puts people at the heart of the change process? Heard about Appreciative Inquiry and curious to learn more?
This one day introductory workshop is designed specifically for people who are new to this approach. It will equip you with a full understanding of all the essential concepts and basic skills for understanding and using this approach in your daily work as coach, manager, consultant or organisational leader.
The plan is not the change
All too often those involved in creating the plan for change believe this to be the most essential part of the process, worthy of extended time and effort, while implementation is seen as ‘just’ a matter of communicating and rolling out the plan. Plans are a story of hope. Change happens when people change their habitual patterns of communication and intervention in a meaningful and sustainable way.
To be informed about future masterclasses for leaders in organisations, join the mailing list!
Want to learn more about how recent psychology discoveries can help you achieve greater success and performance in your organization or as a leader? Don’t have time to read all the books?
This master class workshop will help you understand the most important findings from positive psychology and happiness research so you can help your organisation reap the benefits.