Tag Archives: strategic planning using appreciative inquiry

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)
[paid-downloads id=”3″]

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)
[paid-downloads id=”8″]

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.

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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Appreciative Coaching

Appreciative coaching is different than other coaching and mentoring offerings. Appreciative coaching is deeply rooted in the principles of Appreciative Inquiry. It focuses on what has and is working in your professional and personal lives and is designed to capitalize on an individual, group, or organization’s strengths – generating positive changes in performance, professional development, and organizational leadership.

During appreciative coaching sessions, problems are acknowledged, but are used only as tools for learning. Appreciative coaching takes the best and helps make it better by expanding people’s capacity to perform and by channeling their abilities for the greatest impact. This approach to coaching will take the client from good to great because it fosters personal transformation through innate talent and inherent strength, increasing the likelihood of producing longer lasting results quickly.

Appreciative coaching is a shared experience between the coach and the client. Together, the coach and the client collaborate to build a design for the future, develop strategies, and construct supporting actions for success. The relationship formed between the coach and the client is one of discovery. By intensely listening, asking unconditionally positive questions, and offering sincere encouragement, the coach facilitates the process for the client to unearth their own answers and to take responsibility for acting on them. By increasing the client’s self-awareness, they will understand how to better employ their strengths. Appreciative Coaching is the truest form of empowerment.

Appreciative Coaching is useful for: Leaders in business and corporations, community development, educational organizations, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Interested in receiving Appreciative Coaching?

Please fill out the information below and we will contact you to schedule your Appreciative Coaching session.
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Ask an Expert

Real People, Real Answers

Get answers to your important questions with the help of our Experts on Call! The Company of Experts hosts a series of webinars and telephone conferences that connects you with industry experts who can answer questions on a wide variety of relevant and specialized topics. Each webinar will feature a new Expert on Call – offering new insights and perspectives to your questions. Experts on Call are selected based on their unique background and expertise.

Established in 1989, Company of Experts, Inc. is an international network of people with outstanding expertise in numerous areas. This network of individuals service the needs of community colleges, schools and universities, businesses and corporations, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations.

The Company of Experts’ “Ask an Expert” program was created to provide our friends with an interactive space in which they can freely and openly ask questions. It is our commitment to fostering a comfortable and relaxed online space to share information, wisdom, and expertise ensures that you will get the right answer to your questions. The webinars/phone conferences are low cost, with fees charged to cover costs to support technology, and support.

What topics or questions would you most like to explore during an Ask an Expert session? Your curiosity and questions help to enhance the dialogue and learning for all those involved. Kindly send your topic of interest to Kathy at Kathy@CompanyofExperts.net, call the office at (702) 228-4699, or submit your question below.

Ask our Experts a question today:

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To receive the credit, your friend must list your full name when registering for the event. After registration is paid in full, you will receive an email containing the amount of credit earned to date. There is no limit to the amount of credit you can receive. The credit earned cannot be redeemed for cash.

If you have questions about our “Refer a Friend” program, please read our “Refer a Friend” FAQs or contact our office at (702) 228-4699.

Contact Us

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Kathy Becker
President and CEO

Kathy@CompanyofExperts.net(for information about our programs & services)

Jim Pulliam
Vice President

Jim@fintelo.com

Melissa Robaina
Sustainable Training Solutions Coordinator

Melissa@CompanyofExperts.net(for information about our websites, event promotions, event registration, or social media networks)

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Video Gallery

212o – The Extra DegreeAt 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam, you can power a train.One extra degree = Exponential results
A Letter to MandelaShikaya is a non-profit civil society organisation that recognises the crucial role that teachers can play in deepening and strengthening South Africa’s democracy. As such, Shikaya supports the personal and professional development of teachers to create a South Africa in which young people in schools are inspired and supported to become responsible citizens and future leaders in our democracy, valuing diversity, human rights and peace.This short feature is part of an interactive multimedia programme, Up2Us, which is being created for South African schools. Up2Us will give young people the opportunity to explore their identity, issues of prejudice and what it means to be an active democratic citizen so that they are more likely to feel inspired and motivated to take action in society.
A Vision of Students Todaya short video summarizing some of the most important characteristics of students today – how they learn, what they need to learn, their goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kinds of changes they will experience in their lifetime.
Changing Education ParadigmsThis animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA’s Benjamin Franklin award.
CNA Qatar Strategic Planning ProcessA brief overview of Phase 1 of the CNAQ Strategic Planning process using Appreciative Inquiry.
CNAQ Strategic Planning – Phase 1Second video produced by CNA Qatar – using Appreciative Inquiry to help develop their institution’s 5 year strategic plan.
Coping with Change at WorkChange is a necessary part of business and that can cause stress among employees. Caty Everett, vice president at Alliance Leadership, explains how being transparent and engaging team members in the process can reduce anxiety.
Did you know??Globalization & The Information Age.
Embrace Life: A New Online Ad with a TwistA new campaign called Embrace Life is tackling an old-age issue in a very different way.
How to Start a New Job: Dodging LandminesThose first few days on a new job can be stressful. Roberta “Bobbie” LaPorte, a career and leadership coach, discusses how to make a great first impression and hit the ground running
Learning Styles Don’t ExistProfessor Daniel Willingham describes research showing that learning styles are a myth
Managing During Difficult TimesCaty Everett, vice president of Alliance Leadership, explains how to maintain your credibility and executive presence during turbulent times.
Smile & MoveIt’s all about attitude & action. Mattering to the world all with a smile.
The Opportunity of AdversityThe thesaurus might equate “disabled” with synonyms like “useless” and “mutilated,” but ground-breaking runner Aimee Mullins is out to redefine the word. Defying these associations, she hows how adversity — in her case, being born without shinbones — actually opens the door for human potential.
Tomorrow’s Cities“Tomorrow’s Cities”, a succinct and inspiring film (15 minutes long), presents a compelling and easy to understand account of the major developmental challenges facing our cities in South Africa and more broadly cities of the global south. Framed within these challenges, the film unfolds a vision, through the voice of a school child and exciting use of animation, and proposes practical solutions towards achieving breathable, sustainable, equitable and low carbon urban futures.The film is intended as a learning tool to raise discussion and awareness and ultimately inspire action toward the development of sustainable and equitable, low carbon cities.

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Video Gallery: (view here)