[Ailist] How does it work?

[jkriger]

Thanks to Hank for his comments and too Lionel's response.  It took me a bit 
to consider where my conflict was in the terms good and bad.  As an 
appreciative approach I would anticipate neither a good or bad delineation, 
but simply viewing what is, and allowing for dialogue on what occurred to 
achieve our results.  The terms good and bad inject value which biases the 
perception of the event and as a result, potentially alter the outcome.
In our experience, situation that others thought were "bad," are often used 
as a catalyst for creating outstanding results.  This occurred because we 
were seeking optimal outcomes at all times.  We tended to get what we were 
looking for.  As I view it, appreciating requires the suspension of judgment 
in order to collect all that is, allowing time and attention for the best to 
be revealed.  Thoughts are appreciated.

John K Kriger
Kriger Consulting, Inc.
16 Surrey Lane
Burlington, NJ 08016
Office 609-387-5226
Cell    609-876-1143
www.krigerconsulting.com
john at krigerconsulting.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lionel Boxer" <lionel.boxer at rmit.edu.au>
To: <hkearns4 at comcast.net>; <ailist at lists.business.utah.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Ailist] How does it work?


> My school had a problem with Bob Proctor when he presented to us in 1974
> (or 1975).  When I met him in Melbourne in 1990 I told him that I
> remembered him being at my school and he was very pleased that I
> remembered him.  That was his only presentation to high schools and he
> told me why.
>
> High school teachers tend to be "good civil servants" and worse still -
> behaviouralists.
>
> Social constructionalists understand AI because that is what it is based
> on.  Hence, you are likely a social constructionalist.
>
> Discursive psychology as opposed to behaviouralist psychology.  Most
> behaviouralists deny they are behaviouralists in the same way that
> alcoholics/gamlbers deny that they are alcoholics/gamblers.  Read some
> recent Prof Rom Harre stuff - some of his recent papers discuss this.
> His book Positioning Theory and The Self and Others provide some good
> ideas too.
>
> It is not so much as ignoring the bad.  Rather, it is about framing
> things in an appreciative way.  In all situations there can be a
> continuum with good and bad at either end - frame your discussion in a
> way that talks about moving towards the good side.  You do not have to
> refer to the bad.  It is not about consciously ignoring the bad.
>
> The important thing to understand is that we create our social reality
> by our discursive action and the discursive action of others.  Keep it
> all postiive.
>
> Lionel Boxer CD PhD MBA BTech(IndEng) - 0411267256
> Associate of RMIT University - lionel.boxer at rmit.edu.au
> Graduate School of Business
> What's up?: http://intergon.net/events.html
> The Sustainable Way: http://intergon.net/tsw
>>>> Hank Kearns <hkearns4 at comcast.net> 04/03/08 7:03 AM >>>
> I  am a retired health teachers. I have always been looking for
> information to share with my students concerning mental health and
> relationships. Sine I’m a “old as dirt,” I started with Maslow and
> his hierarchy concepts, that lead to Carl Rogers and his excellent
> work on communication skills, followed by Albert Ellis, Timothy Beck
> and Cognitive Psychology, and more recently Positive Psychology lead
> by Seligman and Peterson.   Along the way I stumbled onto
> Appreciative Inquiry. I tried to get my school to utilize AI concepts
> in changing our school, but was not successful . I’ve been a lurker
> to this list and a fan of AI for many years. Recently I have tried to
> use AI in my personal life. I have no problem with the major
> principles of AI, but I have to admit that I’m not convinced about
> ignoring the bad.
>
> Let me give you an example. Let’s say we are working with a school
> that has a real problem with bullying. Can you ignore the physical
> and emotional pain that is being inflicted while you identify the
> positive and encourage it to grow? (I know I’m in trouble asking this
> kind of question, but I am looking for an answer.) :)
>
> Perhaps a less harmful situation. In your marriage your spouse is a
> slob. He or she never puts things away. Besides that your spouse is
> loving, supportive, and responsible at work and with your children.
> They just are not very neat. Carl Rogers would say that you express
> your persist feelings. You would explain that you are embarrassed
> with the way your house looks, and you want him or her to take in
> consideration your feelings and put things away when he or she is
> done with.
>
> I’m showing my ignorance here, but I have a problem with this.
>
> Hank Kearns
> - -
> www.greydogmac.com
>
> Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. Albert Eistein
>
>
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