Page 172 - Appreciative Leadership

The Courage of Inspiration 145

you where you want to go. One person said that if you start with a

specific vision, then forge and stick with a clear path, people will know
where you are going and trust you. Another suggested that the best
way to create change without resistance is to create a plan together
and do everything gradually. Both approaches illustrate the benefi ts of
a shared path forward: it gets you where you want to go; it builds trust;
and it leads to positive change.
You’ve probably heard the call for a path forward. It sounds like
this: “So what happens next?’’ “When will we get started?” “Who’s
going to do that?” “When will we meet again?” “I can. . .” “I will. . ., if
it is what we need.” Embedded in each question is a commitment to
go forward and concern about how to do so. Recognizing the need for
widespread clarity and agreement, many of our clients fi nd it benefi -
cial to use a template like the one shown in Table 6-3 to document and
communicate their Appreciative Path Forward.
Inspiration —the process of generating compelling images and
showing the way to a better future —is an unbounded source of positive
power. It stimulates hope, liberates energy, and focuses action on behalf
of the whole. On a personal level, Appreciative Leadership inspires hope
through inquiry and dialogue about dreams and the steps that must be
taken to realize them. Hearing other people’s hopes for the future is akin
to receiving road maps that tell us how to support them.

As captain of the track team, Patrick knew his teammates’ hopes
and dreams. One person hoped to go to college on a track scholar-
ship. When that dream was jeopardized due to an injury, Patrick
took action. It was the two-mile race in the national fi nals. His
teammate was leading when he sprained a muscle; but didn’t stop,
because he had to finish the race. Patrick saw the path forward.

Without missing a beat, he stepped in, grabbed his teammate’s
arm, and ran the last two laps with him, arm in arm. Th ey fi nished
the race, and his teammate’s dream came true. He won the track
scholarship to college.