[Ailist] Shine a little light on me- The Importance of relationship

[Cheri]

 Mike and others:

So, your comments have me wondering and pondering whether the very best AI interviews actually move people beyond themselves--the self, with a little 's'--and into what's possible between people.  My sense, upon reflection, is that the greatest interviews I've participated in or observed have been those that elevate people to times when they work and live into their values, strengths, capacity without thinking about 'self'.  When they reflect on it, I think we often ask them to focus on their role--which pulls them out of the "inbetweenness" that Colette mentioned. You have me wondering whether inviting them to think about what it is that enables them to be so fully in that "inbetween"--to work and live in that transpersonal space might not uncover some powerful insights and some ways of being where people are less identified with the (little s) self--which seems always at the mercy of external and internal judgement--and as a static concept is always bound for incompetence (since
everything keeps changing).  What if folks identified with a dynamic self--identified themselves with something more verb-like that is always moving, growing, learning, changing, open, etc.  

Hmmm...

CHeri
-----Original message--
From: "Mike Sands" msands at dccnet.com
Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:16:52 -0400
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: [Ailist] Shine a little light on me- The Importance of relationship

 
I have seen (and heard) a number of references to the idea that the most therapeutic component of coaching/counseling/therapy is an admiring relationship between the partners.  

I believe Carl Rogers was one of the early people to highlight the importance of this relationship.

Do any of you know of any quotes  - include those you might have created - that conveys this idea, or that mentions it?

I am giving a workshop on conversations that  seed, encourage and cultivate such relationships - so any quotes might be quite useful in opening the idea that the skills are generative and  can be mastered - and that it can be very mutually rewarding

 I believe that an important reason that AI works so well is that the Discovery Conversation dynamically seeks out stories that elevate the partners esteem and so fosters such a fertile relationship.  

Appreciatively

Mike


_______________________________________________
The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list administrator. For subscription information, go to:
http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist


***
Cheri B. Torres
www.mobileteamchallenge.com
865-681-0146