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200 Appreciative Leadership

technophobes gain courage and competence. John’s inquisitive and

affirming style brings out the best in others.
Appreciative Leadership holds life as central. It puts life at the heart
of everything it does and says. Its most indispensable measure of suc-
cess is this: To what extent do our actions nurture life? Feed people?
Make people happy? Care for the planet? Spread the wealth? Bring out

the best of people and situations? The people we have interviewed said
that great leadership is “people centric.” We believe this; but we also
believe that in this day and age it is not sufficient to be merely people

centric. While “liberating creative potential” generally refers to coach-
ing, mentoring, supervising, managing, and leading—those actions
that bring out the best of people—it also acknowledges leadership that
cares for and brings out the best of all members of our living ecosystem.
Appreciative Leadership is life centric in its care for the whole.
Whatever you do that builds confidence, enhances skills, inspires

creativity, or expands someone’s worldview makes a positive diff er-
ence in the world. Practices such as strengths spotting and apprecia-
tive coaching will help you do just that.

Foster Collaboration across Divided Lines
A third and globally essential way you will make a positive diff erence
by practicing Appreciative Leadership is by fostering collaboration
across divided lines. When we interviewed people about what they
wanted from leadership, the most frequent responses we received
were these: collaboration, to be engaged with others at work, to be
involved with others making decisions, and to cooperate with others
in the creation of a shared future. People at all levels and functions
of businesses, health care systems, schools, and communities believe
that work goes better with collaboration.
Not only is collaboration what people want; according to evolu-
tionary biologist Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris, a thought leader in the fi eld of
global well-being, it is what they need. She has written, “Our world-
wide economic system, our transportation and communications
technology, our information revolution, have bound us into a body of
humanity that is now being pushed for the sake of its survival to evolve