Appreciative Inquiry Session

Past Student Sarah Nally (2000) facilitated an Appreciative Inquiry with the goal of generating epic ideas from our students in June 2021.

What is Appreciative Inquiry? Appreciative Inquiry is both a model and a mindset to discover and empower self-determined change. Anyone can find problems, many people can think up solutions, however when we engage the tools of appreciative inquiry, we seek to discover the best of what was, what is and what could be. In discovering the positive core of the existing topic, we unlock collective wisdom and ideas start to flow. The energy that we uncover through appreciative design is both respectful and full of wonder. Instead of seeking what isn’t working, instead of uncovering the worst bits, when we seek to understand and hear stories of positive possibility, we become inspired to create optimistic and sustainable solutions for today and tomorrow.

Appreciative inquiry usually follows four steps around a topic (source - www. betterevaluation.org/en/plan/approach/ appreciative_inquiry) 1. DISCOVER: What gives life? What is the best? Appreciating and identifying processes that work well. 2. DREAM: What might be? What is the world calling for? Envisioning results, and how things might work well in the future. 3. DESIGN: What should be the ideal? Co-constructing - planning and prioritizing processes that would work well. 4. DESTINY (or DELIVER): How to empower, learn and adjust/improvise? Sustaining the change. When it comes to delivery, following a design thinking approach for developing MVP (minimum viable products) or prototypes to test is a great way to maintain momentum and create excitement during the implementation phase of a project/idea development. Student Wellbeing The topic of Student Wellbeing for the Appreciative Inquiry was very relevant to the recent challenges of remote learning and COVID-19. Thank you to the students who shared inspirational ideas including ‘how might we make school a second home’ and ‘how might we create a common area for all year levels where our students can connect’. We were extremely lucky that students were at school for the Appreciative Inquiry, providing the optimal brainstorming session. Sarah facilitated the session via Zoom from New Zealand and students were supported on site by teachers and leadership staff. We look forward to developing these ideas and implementing positive change by listening to our most important people, our students. ‘Students learned important ideas that they can apply to collaborative working. For example, students found by “appreciating what is already working rather than starting with a problem and being critical” means that there is a more open and positive focus. Another take-away was that their first idea might not always be the best, but a start is better than nothing, and it’s okay to change ideas. Finally, language is important. Student leaders were intrigued by the idea of the “radical inclusion” offered by questions like “how might we” and the encouragement offered by answering ideas with “yes and” rather than “yes, but”. These strategies are valuable in any context.’ Michele Parkinson, Student Leadership Coordinator ‘The Appreciative Inquiry helped students to think about the holistic goals of Star and work towards supporting students in the best way possible. I feel tackling these goals with a different thinking approach achieved more discussion between students at school and allowed for a better outcome.’ Julia Loffel, SRC Captain

MEET SARAH

Sarah Is on energetic Mumpreneur on a mission to help us all learn to harness the power of our minds and unleash our wonder mindset.

Co-founder of Australia's most innovative event series 'Wired for Wonder' for CommBank, Tropical Biz Retreat 'Nurture Her', online shoe business 'Sienna Baby', creative consultancy 'The Wonder Tribe' and more recently 'Wonder and Wonder' and Head of Change and Communications at NAB, Sarah is passionate about helping people unlock their Wonder Mindset to experiment with ways of working and reach their full potential so that they can be more productive, efficient, happy, conscious, engaged and creative In all aspects of life. From Innovative lntrepreneur and Design Thinking Coach at CommBank to Entrepreneur and serial business owner and Microsoft Ambassador, Sarah has experimented with process improvement, productivity, innovation, Design Thinking and of course old fashioned grit and determination to create an eco-system of successful businesses. Sarah completed high school or Star of the Sea in Melbourne, a Bbus HR and Psychology at Monash Universily, she's a qualified Hypnotherapist, Design Thinking Coach, NLP Master and is currently studying a diploma of neuropsychology and cognitive behavioural therapy. She currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her blended family of five kids under nine and is GM of Design for ASB Bank.