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Appreciative Dialogue

Appreciative Dialogue

A non-judgemental way of sharing experience.
Appreciative Dialogue offers a simple way to share information and create trust at the start of a change process.

What is
Appreciative Dialogue
about ?

What is
Appreciative Dialogue
about ?
What is this Method about ?

Appreciate Dialogue is a way for small groups (4-6 people) to set the scene for a change process, when each person brings a different case to the table. Larger groups can be divided into such small groups; the method enables them to tap into each others’ findings.

When and why is this Method used ?

This method is used when gathering a group of people who will engage in a change process, each from their own perspective and experience. With modification, it can also fruitfully be used in a project team or other group with a common desire for change.

Where does this Method come from ?

The method was developed as part of the Learning for Change program, principally by Marilyn Mehlmann and Andre Benaim. It was explicitly documented only after the workbook for Learning for Change had been published.

Original Source Details
Legacy17
Ken Wilber
MuseKiss

Audience

Audience

Is participant experience relevant for Appreciative Dialogue ?

It's okay if participants haven't seen the inside of a classroom in years

Audience description for Appreciative Dialogue

If used in an educational setting, eg when teaching change processes or decision making, the audience consists of people (usually adults) enrolling for that particular course.
If used in a work or action setting, the audience consists of people interested in crafting a transformative change process, a process for which this method sets the scene, establishes an atmosphere of trust, and enables rapid exchange of information.

Additional Questions

Is it important that all participants are at a similar level of education or abilities?

No. If a small number of participants are illiterate or semi-literate, adjustments can be made; if many are, the method can still be used if a helper/facilitator can be assigned to each group.

Requirements

Requirements
Experience level of the facilitator
Routine as participant OR professional facilitator
Number of Facilitators :  
1. It can be useful though not necessary to have a helper for each sub-group; advisable if there are, say, more than five sub-groups.
How Stationary
Stationary necessary, at least in parts
Location requirements

Each sub-group needs a table, and wall space for posting results.

How to host Appreciative Dialogue?

Run Through
Prep Work (excluding materials)

Make sure each sub-group has a table, flip-chart paper, pens, wall space, bluetack or similar.

Pre Exercise
Steps

Setting up

  • Instruction: Take it in turns to narrate your ‘case’. For each narrator, the note-taker makes notes on the flip-chart paper. No matter how many people there are in the group (max 6), ALL the notes should fit on one paper.  
  • One participant volunteers to be the first narrator. The person next to them on the left is assigned to make notes on the flip-chart paper.
  • If any participant says they feel unable or unqualified to take notes, another person can volunteer in their place. If the overall level of literacy is low, the facilitator may assign a helper to be the single note-taker for the group. However the group dynamic benefits if all or most also take notes.

Go around the table

Participants take it in turns to narrate, for a pre-set length of time. Since they have prepared in advance, it’s often enough to have 10 minutes each.  For each narrator, the note-taker is the person on their left unless otherwise agreed. The other members of the group listen attentively (for example using Deep Listening) and may ask questions for clarification.

Post the results, and view others’

Each sub-group posts their flip-chart paper in their own wall-space.  Participants are invited to walk around and view all the posters, usually during the next break.

Online

Potential for Solely Online & Blended Learning

It can be used with access to online whiteboard tools; or using Google Slides or equivalent for the note-taking.

Appreciative Dialogue
project

project

IN WHICH THIS method WAS DEVELOPED
 
 
 
Hosting Empowerment
Hosting Empowerment
ERASMUS +

ERASMUS +

Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union. Find more information about the program and its goals here: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Creative Commons license:

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