Conversations Worth Having, Second Edition: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, Edition 2
About this ebook
We know that conversations influence us, but we rarely stop to think about how much impact they have on our well-being and ability to thrive. This book is the first to show how Appreciative Inquiry—a widely used change method that focuses on identifying what's working and building on it rather than just trying to fix what's broken—can help us communicate more effectively and flourish in all areas of our lives.
By focusing on what we want to happen instead of what we want to avoid and asking questions to deepen understanding and increase possibilities, we expand creativity, improve productivity, and unleash potential at work and home. Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres use real-life examples to illustrate how these two practices and the principles that underlie them foster connection, innovation, and success.
This edition has been revised throughout with new examples; updates on the latest supporting research in neuroscience, positive science, and positive psychology; and a discussion guide. It also features a new chapter on what the authors call tuning in: cultivating awareness of how our physical and mental state affect our perceptions, emotions, and thoughts as we engage in conversation.
This book teaches you how to use the practices and principles of Appreciative Inquiry to strengthen relationships, build effective teams, and generate possibilities for a future that works for everyone.
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About the author
Jackie Stavros is a professor in the College of Business and Information Technology at Lawrence Technological University and an Appreciative Inquiry Advisor with the David L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry. She is recognized for her creation of SOAR, a positive approach to strategic thinking, planning, and leading. Stavros has more than thirty years of leadership, strategic planning, and change management experience, and she is the coauthor of seven books, including Conversations Worth Having and Thin Book of SOAR.
Cheri Torres is CEO and lead catalyst of Collaborative by Design, a consulting firm that helps organizations increase performance, retain talent, and transform communication and culture. She has been researching, writing, consulting, and speaking on Appreciative Inquiry since 1996, and her work has been featured in media outlets such as Careers in Government, Fast Company, Forbes, HR Magazine, and more. She is the author several books, including the bestseller Conversations Worth Having.
