Appreciative Reflection

Example

As the starting-point for forming his ideal picture of the future Jasper takes a peak experience he had while working in a team.

Example

Question: Describe a peak experience while working in a team, an experience which made a great impression on you. Be positive, concrete and personal. It doesn't matter when it took place and whether it was a formal or informal team, as long as it was fantastic. (step 1)

Jasper tells his experience to the group. The facilitator notes down the experience in keywords on a flip chart and asks further questions about the exact peak moment. (step 2)

Other participants do the same in pairs. Then they recount their partner's story to the whole group while looking for the essential characteristics of the peak experiences. (step 3)

The facilitator now asks the participants to imagine what it would be like if the situation in this peak experience was not the exception but the rule. This is the 'dream' phase. (step 4)

The participants, working in the same pairs, translate elements from the dream phase into practical ways to make this operational (stap 5) and make concrete plans. (step 6)

For Jasper it looks like this:

Discover step 2 Experience	Jasper: 17 years ago, film set, co-ordinating role, my contribution counted. Everyone in team had a clear role. Lots of fun and jokes. Rule: dismantling the set together immediately after a shoot, even at night. Shared achievement: "It's in the can".
Discover step 3 Essential characteristics	Fun Trust Mixed teams Chaos Comradeship Commitment Pride Clear division of roles Respect
Dream step 4 Exception --> rule	Equal contribution and responsibility Everyone trusts each other Exchange of ideas Different specialities Clarity about the projects and discussion
Design step 5 Ways to make this operational	Increase: Taking initiative Shared responsibility Shared sense of ownership
Deliver step 6 Concrete plans	Ask staff member Lisa how she would like to contribute to the development of material. Ask Chris to take responsibility for project evaluation and feedback to clients Look for ways of celebrating more things together.