Word and Deed: Thoughts on Faith-Based Leadership

Appreciative Inquiry Is...

At our 2007 Annual Meeting, CHHSM introduced a new program to provide its members with services that can enhance their leadership skills and expand their awareness of the good that already exists within their organization as a point of development. Walking the Talk is being spearheaded by CHHSM's Director of Consulting Services Daniel Pryfogle and has been implemented at several of our agencies.

There is no quick and easy way to explain this innovative process of strategic planning. However, a small book titled The Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry will help answer some of your questions. In addition, there are numerous posts to our website under Leadership Development as well as some informative articles. To order a copy of the Thin Book go to http://www.thinbook.com/pages/books/books.htm.

The following reflections are a summarization of my impressions from the book. May they be a light unto your path as you open up to the possibilities inherent in the process.

Appreciative Inquiry Is:

• ...a generative approach to growth
• ...a process of discovery
• ...a treasure hunt to find what works
• ...a gift for many seasons
• ...a reason to believe in
• ...something you achieved
• ...nothing but the truth
• ...steeped in absolutes
• ...a shift in your perspective
• ...embracing new directives
• ...internalized assumptions
• ...new ideas that function
• ...honoring your spirit
• ...dissolving old illusions
• ...a perfect kind of mystery
• ...re-framing your history
• ...magnifying worthy deeds
• ...focusing on positive trends
• ...sharing power moments
• ...finding threads of gold
• ...possible solutions
• ...exploring commonalities
• ...collaborating views
• ...creating quantifiable results
• ...transforming business values
• ...maintaining that which serves you well
• ...a living testimony
• ...an integrative mechanism
• ...respectful and prolonged
• ...built on trust and past success
• ...creating order from the mess
• ...established methods to reach goals
• ...tools for work that feed your soul
• ...moments of awareness
• God's Amazing Grace!

Shirley Nelson

Earlier Columns

• The Sacred Seven, July 2005
• The Faithful Five, August 2005
• Sabbath's Sacred Six, September 2005
• The Edifying Eight, October 2005
• Nine Divine Spiritual Reminders to Stay in the Present Moment, November 2005
• Ten Soulful Nuggets, December 2005
• Ten Provocative Perspectives for Vocational Guidance, January 2006
• Five Fruitful Attributes for Servant Leaders, February 2006
• A Banquet of Sacraments, March 2006
• May 2006
• Sabbath's Sacred Reminders, June 2006
• Bridging Troubled Waters, August 2006
• Five Factors for Finding Sabbath Time, September 2006
• Sabbath's Sacred Blessing, November 2006
• Sabbath's Sacred Rhythm of the Breath and the Cadence of Rest, December 2006
• Provocative Prayer for Passionate Spirits, January 2007
• Ten Simple Tips to Remember the Sabbath, March 2007
• Healing Words for Healing People, April 2007
• Nine Steps to Design Outside the Lines, May 2007
• Left to Tell—A Journey from the Depths of Hell, June 2007
• Five Ways to Spiritualize Your Mind – Kindling the Human Presence, July 2007