The agenda for self-leadership session held on 19th Sept was to understand the origins of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and understand its importance in the current world. Dr. Snehal Shah commenced the session by asking the students to pair up randomly and talk about the AI process. This exercise of AI was all about understanding one's strengths and connecting with a person on the basis of those strengths.
The students then reflected on understanding the AI process - WHAT is it? HOW did they feel after doing AI? WHY NOT AI? , were the key questions discussed.
The session was then carried forward towards explaining the intricacy of AI. AI is a process of undertaking change in your own self, in others, and in the overall system by a generative process of understanding what is the best that works in the system and leverage upon them. Appreciative Inquiry helps us to understand the "best of what is" in an organization or social system; and leads to imagining and creating a collectively envisioned, grounded, future. Appreciative Inquiry focuses on the positive aspects of our lives and leverages them to correct the negatives. It’s seen as the opposite of ‘problem-solving’ and an enabler to positive psychology. As Martin Seligman explains it- "Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive."
The students were then acquainted with the latest AI practices in organisations. A quick analogy was drawn with the unfortunate incidents that had of late happened at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant and how they could have been averted had the AI process been in place between the management and the workers. Examples of organisations like John Deere were given where the AI process is meticulously followed which has made positive vibrations linger in their entire space. A case study of BBC was also taken up to make students understand the positive change Appreciative Inquiry brought for the organisation.
The three forms of happiness as explained by Martin Seligman: Pleasant life, Good life and Meaningful life were thoroughly explained as below.
1) Pleasant Life- This talks about having as many pleasures as possible and having the skills to amplify the pleasures.
2) Good Life- This means knowing what your signature strengths are, and then recrafting your work, love, friendship, leisure and parenting to use those strengths to have more flow in life. A good life essentially means living your dreams and passions.
3) Meaningful Life- It is one which consists of using your signature strengths in the service of something that you believe is larger than you are. Understanding the purpose of one’s existence to serve mankind is the underlying thinking of a meaningful life.
Dr. Snehal Shah finally conducted a self-introspection group exercise with students on what exactly meaningful life meant to them. This helped the students understand the mindset of people sitting in the same group.
SOILites now look forward eagerly to the Sidhbari trip where the entire fraternity will engage in ‘The Festival of Appreciative Inquiry and Rejoicing – FAIR’ Or ‘Mining for Gold’ as we fondly call it.
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