Page 67 - Appreciative Leadership

40 Appreciative Leadership

Now it is your turn to practice Th e Flip. Take
PAUSE
a few minutes and use Table 3-2 as a template
for recording and transforming some of your
organization’s or community’s habitual problems.

First, list two or three habitual problems in column 1: the chal-
lenges, issues, or frustrations that your organization or community
talks about over and over again.
Second, ask yourself the question, “What is it that we really want
more of in our organization or community?” Record these reflections

in column 2.
Third, ask yourself, “When we are at our best, what is it that makes

us uniquely who we are?” Record these ideas in column 3.

Finally, circle the one or two reflections that excite you as poten-
tial appreciative topics for future inquiry and action. In doing this,
you may notice, as many people do, that what you really want in your
organization or community is to be more like who you are at your
best. This is a wonderful discovery!

TABLE 3-2
FLIPPING HABITUAL PROBLEMS INTO AFFIRMATIVE TOPICS

Possible Affirmative Topics
1. Habitual Problems 2. What Do We Really 2. When Are We At Our
Want? Best?