Onno Geveke is an organizational development consultant who sees promise in Appreciative Inquiry, an approach that focuses on what is already working well within an organization and envisioning how to build on its strengths. He was inspired by seeing the energy and connections generated when people shared positive stories about their work. Appreciative Inquiry involves groups collaboratively designing the future they want by discussing strengths and dreams. Onno believes this strengths-based, collaborative approach is well-suited to today's complex environment and can move organizations from top-down management to bottom-up employee involvement.

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October 29, 2014 at 2:29 pm
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The promise this consultant sees in Appreciative Inquiry
Editor’s Note: Over the next few weeks, Our Voice will be publishing articles about the convening methodologies of Appreciative Inquiry, Art of
Hosting and Open Space Technology.
When Onno Geveke describes Appreciative Inquiry to friends and family, he always likes to link it to simple things. In what ways are you helping
your kids thrive, he asks. Are you appreciating what they’re doing well and talking about their dreams? Or, are you focusing on what they’re not
doing well and sticking to the most likely, logical scenario for the future?
Onno Geveke
“Most of us do quite well at appreciating our kids’ efforts, and that is one of the core principles with Appreciative Inquiry,” says Onno.
“Appreciating what is already there and talking about dreams and the steps for how to get to those dreams.”
A resident of the Netherlands, Onno’s use of Appreciative Inquiry took off after he attended a World Appreciative Inquiry Conference in Ghent,
Belgium in 2012.
He was struck by the energy that bubbled up in the room when people started talking about their most energizing moments at work, for
instance. He was also moved by the connections people made with each other as they shared their dreams for the future.
As an organizational development consultant, he saw all kinds of possibilities in Appreciative Inquiry as a way to draw out the gifts and
knowledge that exist within and are connected to an organization.
Appreciative Inquiry involves groups of people in co-creating what they want.
“Because we share stories about what is already there and where we would like to go to, it generates a lot of energy and connections within a
(workplace) community,” Onno says.
“From there, involving people in designing steps forward and actually delivering results is much easier.”
In these fast-changing times of increasing complexity, hope shines strong in working together in a possibility-oriented way, Onno says.
“What if together we create the world we would like to live in? Are we really involving each other in creating that desired future?
“In organizations, we need to move from top-down management to bottom-up involvement of employees. In society, we need to involve the

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public more in discovering what is best for the communities we live in,” Onno says.
The traditional Appreciative Inquiry approach includes these elements:
• DISCOVER: The identification of organizational processes that work well.
• DREAM: The envisioning of processes that would work well in the future.
• DESIGN: Planning and prioritizing processes that would work well.
• DESTINY (or DEPLOY): The implementation (execution) of the proposed design.
To learn more about Appreciative Inquiry, we recommend visiting the “AI Commons,” described as a “worldwide portal devoted to the fullest
sharing of academic resources and practical tools on Appreciative Inquiry and the rapidly growing discipline of positive change.”
Writer: Michelle Strutzenberger
If you have a story to tell, or see someone whose story you would like to see amplified write to assignment@axiomnews.com with a line or two
about your idea. Someone will get in touch with you. After a short interview a story will be fashioned and shared.
These stories are part of an open exploration of the personalities and possibilities present in The Gazette Company and its partnerships. Articles
appearing here are produced on behalf of The Gazette Company by a third-party communications company, Axiom News, and do not necessarily
represent the products or the opinion of The Gazette Company. They are intended to amplify authentic voices as the company discovers anew
its gifts and future.
#Appreciative Inquiry #Onno Geveke
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