School of Government announces new training opportunity: Managing Change through Appreciative Inquiry
“The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths, making our weaknesses irrelevant.”
—Peter Drucker, Author and Management Consultant
Mandates. Elections. Social transition. Economic evolution. Recruiting. Retirement. Retraining. As managers and leaders in the public sector, we are all familiar with the many forms of change. It comes from different places at different speeds, and for different reasons, but it always comes.
Managing Change through Appreciative Inquiry , a three-day workshop held in a retreat setting, will provide participants with new skills and a transformative opportunity to re-think and re-charge their lives in the public sector.
Rather than focusing on what is broken, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) turns traditional problem-solving upside down by identifying what is working, building on those strengths, and implementing the innovations that flow from collective conversation. It is a process of transformation that is applicable to personal and professional development, as well as to communities and organizations.
Who should attend?
This workshop is designed for anyone who manages change in their organization or community, including local and state government employees, elected officials, leaders and staff of nonprofit organizations, facilitators, and educators.
What will participants learn?
You will learn how to apply the strengths-based principles and practices of Appreciative Inquiry to achieve the following goals in your daily work:
• Successfully align your organization's vision with goal-setting and planning for the future
• Maintain a high level of engagement and commitment among teams
• Encourage a culture of collaboration and innovation
By completing this hands-on, learn-by-doing workshop, you will gain a solid grounding in AI and learn how to effectively initiate positive change in your organization, community, and personal life.
Who is the trainer?
Sallie Lee focuses on organizational and international development as a consultant to a diverse group of corporate, academic, governmental, and nonprofit organizations. For 15 years, Lee has collaborated with her clients to offer creative, participatory, practical processes for whole systems, while serving as a thinking partner, facilitator, and strategist. Trained in psychology and philosophy at NC State University, she also holds an MA in international development from the University of Miami and certification in global change and social innovation from Case Western Reserve University's Global Excellence in Management program, the year-long flagship foundational program on which most other academic AI programs are modeled. Lee has published four articles on AI and trained more than 700 people in its principles and practices. She lives in Asheville , NC .
Who is hosting the training?
The Public Intersection Project at the School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill focuses on encouraging cross-organizational, collaborative problem-solving at the community level. To learn more about this innovative training opportunity, visit www.publicintersection.unc.edu, or contact Margaret Henderson at 919.966.3455 or margaret@sog.unc.edu.
Where and when will the training be held?
February 12 –15, 2008 Duck (Sanderling Resort and Spa) -- Please register by Jan. 30.
May 21–23, 2008 Chapel Hill ( Paul J. Rizzo Conference Center )
June 11–13, 2008 Asheville (Richmond Hill Inn)
To register, visit www.publicintersection.unc.edu and click on “Current Activities.”
Where can I learn more about the process of Appreciative Inquiry?
Visit http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu to learn more about the academic foundation of Appreciative Inquiry, as well as practical tools related to its application.
 |