Appreciative Inquiry in the Time of COVID-19

2 April 2020

Appreciative Inquiry: Good Questions to Support People in the Time of Covid19

During this critical time, we make choices about where to give our attention. Appreciative Inquiry is a methodology and philosophy that embraces a search for what is life-giving. It is a search for what we want to “appreciate,” or to have more of. An appreciative interview uses questions that can open up channels of connection that give us strength and impact our lives.

During this COVID-19 time of “physical distancing,” appreciative interview questions can be included in Zoom meetings and shared among family to help one another and deepen communication with friends and colleagues.

Direction: Create small groups of 2-5 people. Present questions to participants and give them a few minutes to reflect on questions. Divide them into smaller groups (use Zoom breakout rooms) if possible. If in pairs, each person can interview the other by asking the first question and listening to the answer; then asking the second one, etc. After the allotted time, switch roles. Or, for small groups, each person can take a turn responding to the given questions. Give the gift of listening.

INQUIRY QUESTIONS - USING YOUR STRENGTHS

(These questions were provided as part of the Connecting to Conquer COVID CCAI Webinar Series, April 2, 2020. For more information about Appreciative Inquiry or to sign up for future programs in this series, go to the Cooperrider Center CCAI Webinar Series.)

  1. How have you used your strengths at this time? What are you doing that gives you resilience and that helps others?
  2. If you could shine a spotlight on things that give you hope at this time, what would they be?
  3. What is one action you can take today to make things better for yourself and others?

INQUIRY QUESTIONS - HOSPITALITY AND HOME

  1. Principle 5 in URI’s Charter says, “We give and receive hospitality.” During this time of physical distancing when people cannot visit in each other’s homes, what new ways of showing hospitality are you discovering?
  2. “Sheltering at home” is a requirement for millions of people to reduce the spread of COVID-19. What do you appreciate about your own home? When challenges arise, what works to give you resilience and support within your own home?
  3. “Coming home to oneself” is a metaphor that refers to realizing a feeling of inner alignment, inner peace, and tapping into the deeper purpose and meaning of our lives. How are you experiencing “coming home to yourself” at this time?

INQUIRY QUESTIONS - A GLOBAL LEARNING MOMENT

  1. Maps of the world show the spread of COVID-19. However, these global maps also serve as daily reminders that reinforce how interconnected we are as one world community. How have you experienced global connectedness? What experiences of interconnectedness give you the most hope?
  2. Through advances of internet technology, many people are given the rich privilege to learn from each other, even though they may live in different parts of the world. Together, day by day, we are learning more about how to become a global community. What kinds of global learning moments impress you? How would you like to contribute to building a global community that works for all?