I recently read a great book, Positive Psychology by Bridget Grenville-Cleave. Here is some of what I learned.

AI:  Appreciative Inquiry is a process for implementing and achieving change which was developed in the 1980’s by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva.  It is a strength-based (positive thinking) approach to managing change.

Don’t begin thinking about the problem that you want to solve.  Focus on the positive outcome that you want to create.

There are five principles:

1. “Words create worlds”.  Tell yourself a story that has a positive outcome.
2. Asking questions starts the process of change. Be curious like a 10-year-old.
3. Our individual experience is a story we can tell in a new way. Is your story filled with success or failure?  If it’s filled with failure, re-interpret it.
4. We can create positive change by creating positive images. Envision where you want to go.
5. An in-depth view of what went right is better than analyzing what went wrong.

When considering a GOAL make sure it has these three C’s. (You need these for your own goals, but the people that work for you need them too!)

1. CONTROL – Did you choose the goal and are you in control of reaching it?
2. COMPETENCE – Are you good at what you do?  Are you good enough to reach the goal?
3. CONNECTION – Does the goal allow you to have good, close relationships and are they of your choosing?

When it comes to connection, a person’s happiness often depends on the happiness of the people they are closely connected to.

As the old saying goes, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!"

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