[Ailist] Short intro - short time

[Lisa Hanger]

This is a suggestion for Lisa Gravel's request for using about 45
minutes to give a brief intro to Ai within an ASTD program. 

I might be less ambitious than Dave's suggestion to use 5 mins per each
of the 4 Ds. But I'd be excited to know if that works. 

In my work with nonprofits, I am more likely to use quick Ai experiences
than anything else. We just don't get long periods of time to use all
the Ds. For short intros, I've found that giving them an experience
leads them to want to know more, and so I'm more inclined to leave them
curious. But being devoted to Ai principles and practices, I slip them
in every chance I get. 

Recently I led 2 completely differently breakout presentations and
slipped in an Ai experience. One session was on board governance and
board accountability and one session was on creativity and problem
solving. In each session, I used a paired interview near the beginning,
and working with a version of the first of a standard 4 part Ai
interview protocol. I gave them about 5-6 minutes for each half of the
interview, so they get just enough to know what it's like to be asked
about, and share, what they really care about. 

For the board governance session, they could talk about something they
are most proud of during their work (staff and volunteers were present)
with nonprofits. 

For the creativity session (I can never deliver a straight problem
solving training, although that's what I was asked to do), I told them
they were each just given a Genius Award for solving a problem with
great success, or were outstandingly creative in something in their
work. Then, the interviewing began. 

When the short experience is over, I ask them what they experienced,
drawing out the high energy that results when people talk about what
works. I give them some of the basic assumptions (in every org, system,
etc, something works, build on that). I usually have a couple of
cartoons (Herman or Zits) that illustrate the positive effects of
thinking positively. Then, I compare traditional problem solving to an
Ai approach - when you might use each. Sometimes I give them David
Cooperrider's graduate student story about how Ai got started. And I
always give them the Ai commons website.  I help them see how they can
use this approach. They can use it without any of the Ds, to build in
time on a board meeting agenda to talk about what is working, for
example. 

Depending on the topic for the rest of your session, you could elaborate
further, or attempt a small progression of using Ai. But remember, in a
real 4D setting, the energy can drop after the initial interview if not
handled well. I feel good about leaving them with a positive experience.


Another strategy my boss has used as an icebreaker for a breakout length
or half day AI intro, is to select key terms relating to the topic/group
(displayed artfully on a powerpoint slide or flip chart), using the most
positive angles possible. Examples: Hope, community, change,
inspiration, imagination. Ask each participant to pick one word of
phrase and then interview his or her neighbor about why he or she
selected that word. Participants can be asked to think of a story about
that word and why it was a positive reminder for each. If it's helpful,
I can send you (or anyone else) the powerpoint intro. The intro activity
was adapted from one of our favorite Ai leader's work, Jim Lord.  

I wish you the best success in your 45 minute chance to change a life. 

Lisa Hanger 
Vice President for Training 
Indiana Association of United Ways 
3901 N. Meridian St., Suite 306 
Indianapolis, IN  46208-4026 
317-923-2377 x 119 
FAX 317-921-1397 
www.iauw.org 
and the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network 
www.inrn.org 



-----Original Message-----

Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:21:30 -0800
From: Lisa Gravel <lisa at customsolutionstraining.com>
Subject: [Ailist] short introduction to AI material/ suggestions
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu

Hi Esteemed AI Colleagues

 I have a short window of time with a local ASTD (American Society for
Training and Development) during which time I want to lead them through
a
little AI experience.  45 minutes.  The participants will be trainers,
developers, HR people, etc. (maybe even some OD folks :-)).  So could
you
please make some suggestions how to best use this time for it to be
memorable and for them to leave with a desire to know more about
AI.because
of the experience?

 
Your time and energy are appreciated.  Take great care!  PS.In Anchorage
Alaska it is a beautiful fall day. 
 
Lisa Gravel, MSOD

Better World Consulting Group, Inc.

"Partnering to Make the World Better--One Organization, One Team, One
Individual at a Time."

 <http://www.betterworldconsulting.com> www.betterworldconsulting.com

 <mailto:lisa at betterworldconsulting.com> lisa at betterworldconsulting.com

907.770.7658  or 907.230.7146

Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:11:19 -0400
From: Dave Piltz <dpiltz at thelearningkey.com>
Subject: Re: [Ailist] short introduction to AI material/ suggestions
To: Lisa Gravel <lisa at customsolutionstraining.com>,
	ailist at lists.business.utah.edu

Wow .. what a challenge ... I'll be interested in reading other's 
thoughts and perspectives.  As a trainer I know potentially how tough 
the crowd could be .... but you could decide to shorten the 4 D's 
into 5 minutes each [as best as you can] and then 20 minutes for 
debriefing the experience where you ask questions like:

* What was different in this approach than other approaches you are used
to?
* What was challenging?
* What type of outcomes do you expect to get in using a process like 
this with groups?
* What advantages are there to using AI in terms of participant's
engagement?
* What advantages are there to using AI in terms of group's future
success.

Not sure if the helps .. but I would be prone in your situation to 
provide some time of experience for 20 minutes and then debrief it 
out for about 20 minutes in which application links are made.

Good luck!

Dave Piltz