Tag Archives: appreciative inquiry

Healing Healthcare Organizations

Webinar Overview:

Healthcare organizations are unique for several reasons: they are heavily regulated; rely on knowledge construction and use rather than information management; have caring for others as their primary reason for existence; are both high tech and high touch; and require continual change and innovation for sustainability.

These factors create a dynamic system in which the development of a culture of inquiry is necessary to support an environment in which change and innovation can thrive.  Appreciation creates the context for this healing environment through inquiry, relationship, and communication.

Healing is defined as “the natural process by which the body repairs itself. We can apply this same conceptual definition to healthcare-establishing a healing environment that will allow the “body to repair itself” through appreciative inquiry.

Healthcare organizations are complex systems that have historically approached change from a problem-identification and problem-solving framework. This approach works well for simple, time-limited, functional problems.  In order to change, transform, and yes, even heal the organization, a different approach is needed. Appreciative Inquiry provides that foundation for change, transformation, and healing. What we need are ways to transform the organizational culture through inquiry, relationship, communication, and collaborative partnerships. 

Designed For:

Doctors, nurses, administrators, healthcare educators, technicians, specialists, therapists, healthcare assistants, individuals working at nursing homes or assisted livings — in short, anyone who involved in the healthcare industry who wants to learn how to improve the culture of the healthcare organization in which they work.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Describe the elements of a healing environment: inquiry, relationship, and communication.
  • Examine ways to facilitate positive change that create a healing environment.
  • Construct strategies for creating a healing environment in your organization.
  • Reflect on your own personal characteristics as a leader of change.
Duration: Approximately 1 Hour
Price: $9.99 USD (for webinar recording only)
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Presenter:

Kristen Crusoe RN, MN, EdD has been in healthcare for over 20 years, working as a nursing leader and educator, consultant, and writer/researcher.  Dr. Crusoe has been an engaged AI facilitator for the past several years, and has worked with hospital, clinic, academic, and private organizations.  Kristen has a BA from Florida State University, a Master’s of Nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University, and a Doctor of Education from Oregon State University. She is on the faculty of Oregon Health Sciences University, Southwestern Oregon Community College, and University of Phoenix.  Kristen has extensive experience working with complex system improvements utilizing multiple quality improvement methodologies, including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Positive Deviance, and SOAR.

From Perfection to Sustainable Growth: Practicing the Art of Appreciative Inquiry

Webinar Overview:

Built to last is out . . . Designed to Evolve is in.  The notion of perfection can only exist in a static world.  We live in complex, dynamic times and only organizations and communities that are designed to evolve will be capable of sustainable growth.  This webinar explores four basic capacities necessary for self-evolving systems. Participants will leave the webinar with materials that will support interpersonal practices that support collaborative learning and innovation.

Designed For:

Managers, supervisors, CEOs, anyone working in an organization

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Introduction, practices and exercises associated with each of the four META capacities: Multiple ways of knowing, Engagement & accountability, Thinking together, and Acting collaboratively.
  2. Learn practical ways to take the “META practice” into the workplace and life.
Duration: Approximately 1 Hour
Price: $9.99 USD (for webinar recording only)
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Presenter:

Dr. Cheri Torres has more than 30 years experience helping people and organizations expand their capacity for collaboration and excellence. She has worked in the public and private sectors in the US and around the world training trainers and facilitators, facilitating small and large groups, and providing professional development and organizational design consultation.

Cheri’s professional focus is grounded in the field of personal/ collaborative learning. Cheri helps people and organizations shift their workplace practices and design their systems for evolving sustainability. She believes that in today’s world, excellence is a function of learning and innovation and that these are natural outcomes for an appreciative inquiry-based, outcomes-focused organization. She partners with schools and organizations to expand their capacity for multiple ways of knowing, engagement and accountability, thinking together, and acting collaboratively. As a result people change they way they work together and how the organization is designed: a collaborative learning community evolves marked by open and positive relationships and the alignment of social and technical systems.

Cheri holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Collaborative Learning from the University of Tennessee. She also holds an MBA, a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology, and level II certification in Spiral Dynamics Integral. She serves on the board for the Media Arts Project of Asheville, NC and has authored numerous books and articles including The Appreciative Facilitator: Accelerated Learning Practices, From Conflict to Collaboration, and Dynamic Relationships: Unleashing the Power of Appreciative Inquiry in Daily Living. She also co-designed and patented Mobile Team Challenge, an award-winning, portable low ropes course.  She is a member of the Society for Organizational Learning, the Taos Institute, the American Association of School Administrators, the International Organization for Noetic Sciences and Spiral Dynamics Integral.

Engaging in Difficult Conversations: Discussing What Matters Most

Webinar Overview:

There are certain conversations we all dread, such as delivering bad news, discussing sensitive subjects, confronting unprofessional behavior, or revealing unfavorable performance reviews. Regardless of the topic, difficult conversations occur at all levels of an organization. While it may be tempting to ignore the problems or delay the conversation, disregarding critical issues only creates additional problems and conflict – often resulting in a loss of productivity and engagement. Working in today’s competitive, fast-paced environment requires a broad foundation of leadership, communication, and people skills. The ability to engage in and facilitate difficult conversations effectively is one of the many challenges faced by many workers today.

This webinar offers a participative environment to demonstrate how practicing Appreciative Inquiry can help you solve problems, address issues, and engage in the important, crucial discussions we try so hard to avoid. Register today for this webinar and learn how to turn challenging conversations with difficult people into a foundation for improved relationships, enhanced morale, and increased productivity.

Designed For:

Individuals in all levels of an organization who wish to take a leadership role in creating and facilitating positive organizational culture and effective relationships are invited to join this webinar.

Learning Outcomes:

  • More mindful of daily conversations that create/maintain organization or community culture.
  • Reflect on the value of intentional conversation.
  • Identify what creates a culture of welcome that supports learning, innovation, and collaboration.
  • Identify types of conversations, including the important difficult conversations that are often avoided.
  • Address difficult conversations using Appreciative Inquiry and reflective practice.
  • Handle conflict and feedback in constructive and generative ways.
Duration: Approximately 1 Hour
Price: $9.99 USD (for webinar recording only)
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Presenter:

Cheri Torres, PhD, has more than 30 years experience helping people and organizations expand their capacity for collaboration and excellence. She has worked in the public and private sectors in the US and around the world training trainers and facilitators, facilitating small and large groups, and providing professional development and organizational design consultation.

Cheri’s professional focus is grounded in the field of personal/ collaborative learning. Cheri helps people and organizations shift their workplace practices and design their systems for evolving sustainability. She believes that in today’s world, excellence is a function of learning and innovation and that these are natural outcomes for an appreciative inquiry-based, outcomes-focused organization. She partners with schools and organizations to expand their capacity for multiple ways of knowing, engagement and accountability, thinking together, and acting collaboratively. As a result people change they way they work together and how the organization is designed: a collaborative learning community evolves marked by open and positive relationships and the alignment of social and technical systems.

COE Celebrates Earth Day 2011

Heather Henson (left) and Melissa Robaina (right) are all smiles as they partake in a local cleanup in celebration of Earth Day

On April 22, 1970 over 20 million Americans rallied in the streets, parks, schools, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. According to earthday.net, “Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values”. That day in 1970 is one to remember. As a result of everyone’s efforts, Congress enacted the United States Environmental Protection Agency in addition to passing the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

Company of Experts got down and dirty in celebration of Earth Day. The Company’s Social Marketing Director, Melissa Robaina, along with their student intern, Heather Henson, joined Get Outdoors Nevada – an interagency volunteer program – in its fight to preserve the desert ecosystem. Together they spent hours picking up trash in a remote area east of the Las Vegas strip that is often used for illegal dumping. More than thirty volunteers from around the Las Vegas area joined the cleanup efforts in order to restore the desert landscape to its beautiful, well-kept state.

When asked to reflect about the cleanup event Melissa replied, “This experience has been humbling and has ignited my desire to find additional ways to ‘go green’. I am very thankful to work for the Company of Experts’ whose principles not only value the people we serve, but the world for which sustains us all.” Heather’s response was brief and to the point, “Life is a garden, dig it.”

Accreditation Solutions


Accreditation solutions that work for your school, college, or university. USE YOUR VALUABLE TRAINING AND CONSULTING DOLLARS WISELY.

Your accreditation embodies the excellence and innovation that your institution strives to be known for. We can assist in creating a professional product that you and your institution can be proud of by bringing our experience and expertise to this important process.

The Company of Experts, Inc. provides a range of services to help colleges and universities facilitate their accreditation or the re-affirmation of their accreditation while engaging stakeholders to assess and identify strengths for full buy-in of the accreditation standards and organizational outcomes.

Colleges and Universities are facing fiscal and accountability challenges during a time of unique opportunities to create new programs and services to students. The accreditation process has become more demanding to demonstrate performance outcomes and an increasingly visible means for colleges and universities to demonstrate measurable performance improvement.

Accreditation services are provided by educators and administrators that have had direct experience within an organization, just like yours, as well as collaborating with various accrediting bodies. They understand your needs and your unique challenges. Why hire someone for this crucial role who has to learn about the accreditation processes affecting colleges, schools, and universities? Hire an expert…

Company of Experts, Inc. is a service provider for the American Association of Community College

Areas of Expertise:

  • Accreditation Self-Study Support
  • Assessing Intended Learning Outcomes
  • Assistance with writing and proofreading accreditation self-study documents
  • Collaboration with Accrediting Organizations
  • Designing, developing, and maintaining an accreditation website for all stakeholders working on the accreditation process
  • Developing faculty and staff learning and professional development programs
  • Editing and Planning
  • Mock Accreditation Panels
  • Research, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement for program development and enhancement
  • Restructuring
  • Strategic Planning
  • Team Development

Look for accreditation services?

Please fill out the contact form below and will we contact you about your inquiry. Thank you
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Congratulations to Lane Glenn, the new president of Northern Essex Community College

This is one of those warm and fuzzy stories of success that we just love to share. For those of you in higher education and/or if you have participated in our Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training, you may know Lane Glenn. Lane has been an Expert of Call and AIFT Trainer/Facilitator for years. He is one of those people that truly stands out in a crowd. He is fun, energetic, optimistic and cares about people and helping them find the best in themselves. The kind of person you know will do terrific work in whatever he does and where ever he goes.

With pleasure, we send this public congratulations to Dr. Lane Glenn as the new president of Northern Essex Community College. Lane will be serving NECC after the long tenure of a fine college president David Hartleb, who will retire this coming June.

We welcome you to sign Lane’s virtual “Congratulations Card” via the discussion threads found on the Company of Experts’ Facebook or LinkedIn pages.