Appreciative Inquiry: Unleashing the Potential at Nielsen Media Local Products

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRYAPPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

What problems are What problems are you having?you having?

What is working What is working around here?around here?

SELECTIVE ATTENTIONSELECTIVE ATTENTION

What we focus on What we focus on becomes our becomes our reality.reality.

Positive Image = Positive ActionPositive Image = Positive Action

For as he thinks within himself, so he For as he thinks within himself, so he is.is. -- Proverbs -- Proverbs 23:723:7

A vivid imagination compels the whole A vivid imagination compels the whole body to obey it. body to obey it. -- Aristotle-- Aristotle

Imagination is more important than Imagination is more important than knowledge. knowledge. -- Einstein-- Einstein

WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH AI?WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH AI?

WE CANWE CAN

Change Images into Change Images into PossibilitiesPossibilities

Change Intentions Change Intentions into Realityinto Reality

Change Belief into Change Belief into PracticePractice

Assumptions of Appreciative Assumptions of Appreciative InquiryInquiry

In every society, organization, or group, In every society, organization, or group, something workssomething works

What we focus on becomes our realityWhat we focus on becomes our reality

Reality is created in the moment, and Reality is created in the moment, and there are multiple realitiesthere are multiple realities

The act of asking questions of an The act of asking questions of an organization or group influences the organization or group influences the group in some waygroup in some way

More Assumptions of AIMore Assumptions of AI

People have more confidence and comfort People have more confidence and comfort to journey to the future (the unknown) to journey to the future (the unknown) when they carry forward parts of the when they carry forward parts of the past (the knownpast (the known

If we carry parts of the past forward, they If we carry parts of the past forward, they should be what is best about the pastshould be what is best about the past

It is important to value differencesIt is important to value differences

The language we use creates our realityThe language we use creates our reality

Problem Solving VS Appreciative Problem Solving VS Appreciative Inquiry Inquiry

“ “ Felt Need ”Felt Need ”Identification of ProblemIdentification of Problem

Analysis of CausesAnalysis of Causes

Analysis of Possible SolutionsAnalysis of Possible Solutions

Action Planning - TreatmentAction Planning - Treatment

Basic AssumptionBasic Assumption::

CHANGE is a problem to be CHANGE is a problem to be solvedsolved

AppreciateAppreciateValuing the Best of “What Is”Valuing the Best of “What Is”

Envision “What Might Be”Envision “What Might Be”

Innovate “What Will Be”Innovate “What Will Be”

Integrate “into What is” Integrate “into What is”

Basic AssumptionBasic Assumption::

CHANGE is a solution to be CHANGE is a solution to be embracedembraced

The 4-D CycleThe 4-D Cycle

DISCOVER

DESIGN

DESTINY DREAM

The best of what is

What might be

Describe the Ideal

Make it happen

Co-construct – Involve everyone

Plan – Train – Set Goals - Act

DialogueEnvision

Appreciate

Evaluate

Empower, learn,adjust, improvise

stabilize

If one advances confidently in the If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.common hours.

Go confidently in the direction of your Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagineddreams! Live the life you’ve imagined

Two Quotes by ThoreauTwo Quotes by Thoreau

The ProcessThe Process Day and a half with Senior LeadersDay and a half with Senior Leaders

• Dreams, vision, interviews with employeesDreams, vision, interviews with employees Group coaching using weekly reflection forms Group coaching using weekly reflection forms

with Senior Leaders (8 weeks)with Senior Leaders (8 weeks) Experiential Learning (EL) activities with Experiential Learning (EL) activities with

management leaders (17 people)management leaders (17 people) Group coaching using weekly reflections forms Group coaching using weekly reflections forms

with management teamwith management team Development of principlesDevelopment of principles EL with next level downEL with next level down Management continues to reinforce learningsManagement continues to reinforce learnings

Local Products: What we wantedLocal Products: What we wanted Strategic targets: well defined, Strategic targets: well defined,

communicated, and sharedcommunicated, and shared All ONE team with shared leadershipAll ONE team with shared leadership To know where and how decisions To know where and how decisions

are madeare made How to have good conversationsHow to have good conversations To know and understand how we To know and understand how we

work together work together Everyone happy and successfulEveryone happy and successful

The Ideal CultureThe Ideal Culture Alignment across teams; harmonyAlignment across teams; harmony Improved trust and respect; no fear to be vulnerableImproved trust and respect; no fear to be vulnerable Effective communicationEffective communication Everyone focused on the shared goal with shared Everyone focused on the shared goal with shared

accomplishmentaccomplishment Learning organization; opportunity to make Learning organization; opportunity to make

mistakesmistakes Resources given to what is important rather than Resources given to what is important rather than

what is urgentwhat is urgent Time to fix what we have and celebrate successTime to fix what we have and celebrate success Agile/XP is how we do business—consistency, fun, Agile/XP is how we do business—consistency, fun,

innovation innovation

Best Experiences of Working Best Experiences of Working TogetherTogether ““You heard me even if you disagreed with me”You heard me even if you disagreed with me” We challenged issues and assignments together We challenged issues and assignments together

in order to form a collaborative planin order to form a collaborative plan ““When I needed information, you took the time to When I needed information, you took the time to

give it”.give it”. You trusted us when we said, “Trust us, we’ll fix You trusted us when we said, “Trust us, we’ll fix

it”. . . And we did.it”. . . And we did. Meetings where everyone shares information, Meetings where everyone shares information,

comes together and roles out as a unit.comes together and roles out as a unit. Recognizing the tough position someone else is in Recognizing the tough position someone else is in

and acknowledging it.and acknowledging it.

Every action we make or Every action we make or question we ask is generative: question we ask is generative: we cannot we cannot notnot have an impact. have an impact.

LET THE ACTION BEGIN . . .

What did we do?What did we do?

Chaos TossChaos Toss SpeedballSpeedball Matrix WalkMatrix Walk Blindfold WalkBlindfold Walk Trust VeeTrust Vee

What did we learn about leadership?What did we learn about leadership?

KnowledgeableKnowledgeable Honest and trustworthyHonest and trustworthy Open and caringOpen and caring Good listener and communicatorGood listener and communicator Shares big pictureShares big picture Supports others in stretchingSupports others in stretching ThoughtfulThoughtful InclusiveInclusive Follows through, dependableFollows through, dependable Focused, dedicatedFocused, dedicated

What did we learn about Feedback & What did we learn about Feedback & Reflection?Reflection? Schedule time for reflection during Schedule time for reflection during

projects.projects. Communicate & adopt successful Communicate & adopt successful

practices.practices. Act on area of improvementAct on area of improvement Use one another as sounding boardsUse one another as sounding boards Share and diffuse Share and diffuse

What did we learn about qualities What did we learn about qualities that will help us relate?that will help us relate? Courage and considerationCourage and consideration Self-assured, empowered, visionarySelf-assured, empowered, visionary Open to new ideasOpen to new ideas Reflect while maintaining momentumReflect while maintaining momentum EnthusiasticEnthusiastic Integrity, honesty, knowledgeableIntegrity, honesty, knowledgeable Values diversity, supportiveValues diversity, supportive

What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?

What did we discover about What did we discover about decision-making?decision-making?

Share informationShare information ListenListen We can make quick decisionsWe can make quick decisions TrustTrust Brainstorming balanceBrainstorming balance Think big pictureThink big picture Who needs what and who needs to know?Who needs what and who needs to know?

What did we discover about What did we discover about Learning?Learning? Align and move forward together in Align and move forward together in

one directionone direction Open communicationOpen communication Address the issues that call to be Address the issues that call to be

addressed: courage and compassionaddressed: courage and compassion Focus on learningFocus on learning

What did we learn about What did we learn about Communication?Communication? Facilitate conversationsFacilitate conversations Listen for detailsListen for details Push for clarityPush for clarity Speak up, inquire, ask backSpeak up, inquire, ask back Assign a point personAssign a point person Persist, especially on close issuesPersist, especially on close issues Be curious; inquire into assumptionsBe curious; inquire into assumptions Ask probing questionsAsk probing questions

What did we learn about What did we learn about Relationships?Relationships? Support each otherSupport each other Have fun, laugh, celebrateHave fun, laugh, celebrate CommunicateCommunicate Unified front, no turf only trustUnified front, no turf only trust Golden ruleGolden rule Row in the same directionRow in the same direction Stretch outside the comfort zoneStretch outside the comfort zone Passion coupled with mutual respectPassion coupled with mutual respect Integrity, honesty and courage to speak Integrity, honesty and courage to speak

and hear each person’s perspectiveand hear each person’s perspective

What did we learn about strategy?What did we learn about strategy?

Generate a shared visionGenerate a shared vision Schedule reflections: where are we Schedule reflections: where are we

with regards to strategy?with regards to strategy? Stop and ensure we are pursuing Stop and ensure we are pursuing

what is important and not just what what is important and not just what is urgent.is urgent.

Be strategicBe strategic

What did we learn about trust?What did we learn about trust?

Delivers on commitmentsDelivers on commitments Good interpersonal skillsGood interpersonal skills Positive attitudePositive attitude DependableDependable ListensListens Addresses tough issues with Addresses tough issues with

considerationconsideration

What did we learn about customer What did we learn about customer communication?communication? ProactiveProactive TimelyTimely ClearClear Speak the client’s languageSpeak the client’s language AccuracyAccuracy Relevance, value, insightRelevance, value, insight Includes what NMR is doing, when and whyIncludes what NMR is doing, when and why

Creating Principles to Creating Principles to Live BYLive BY

The group met for two half days and The group met for two half days and discussed and came to consensus on discussed and came to consensus on the principles that would guide their the principles that would guide their actions. actions.

““What we focus on becomes our What we focus on becomes our reality” reality”

LPMG PrincipleLPMG Principle

We are the We are the connectorsconnectors who see the big who see the big picture and ask the right questions to picture and ask the right questions to delight our clients with “delight our clients with “wowwow” ” products and services. We products and services. We boldlyboldly expect to reach expect to reach our highestour highest dreams. dreams. It’s about It’s about delighted clientsdelighted clients..

IT PrincipleIT Principle

We develop and maintain mutual We develop and maintain mutual respect across our teams, focusing respect across our teams, focusing on trust, honesty and a shared on trust, honesty and a shared vision for success which vision for success which encourages open communication, encourages open communication, awareness and appreciation of awareness and appreciation of individual styles, opportunities to individual styles, opportunities to contribute in all ways and allows contribute in all ways and allows positive controversy so that positive controversy so that everyone arrives at a shared vision.everyone arrives at a shared vision.

Reflections . . .Reflections . . .My vision for who I am and how I relate when I am at My vision for who I am and how I relate when I am at my best on this team my best on this team

Personal Leadership Goal(s) for this week Personal Leadership Goal(s) for this week 1.1.2.2.3.3.

Reflection-on-Action this WeekReflection-on-Action this Week

Shining examples of living my vision in meeting my Shining examples of living my vision in meeting my goals this week. (Please be specific in offering an goals this week. (Please be specific in offering an example of you actually living your vision. See example of you actually living your vision. See yourself in a situation where you were achieving “the yourself in a situation where you were achieving “the dream”).dream”).Challenges I faced this week in fully living my goals; Challenges I faced this week in fully living my goals; questions I have.questions I have.How those challenges would be experienced if I were How those challenges would be experienced if I were living my vision.living my vision.What needs to be done to achieve that experience?What needs to be done to achieve that experience?What I most appreciate about myself and my What I most appreciate about myself and my colleagues this week.colleagues this week.Is there a pressing concern for next week?Is there a pressing concern for next week?

Catching My TeamCatching My TeamShare one story of catching your team working at Share one story of catching your team working at their best and living their shared principles. [Let their best and living their shared principles. [Let them know you are highlighting this story this week!]them know you are highlighting this story this week!]

Shifting the way you relateShifting the way you relate

Changing the language of Changing the language of engagementengagement

Getting to know one another Getting to know one another at a deeper levelat a deeper level

Listening to be influenced, Listening to be influenced, asking back to understandasking back to understand

Looking for the good stuff Looking for the good stuff and asking the difficult and asking the difficult questionsquestions

IT Weekly ReflectionsIT Weekly Reflections Everyone filled out Reflection Forms in advance Everyone filled out Reflection Forms in advance

Weekly conference call w/Dr. PamWeekly conference call w/Dr. Pam

Initially 2 groups, but team later combined into 1Initially 2 groups, but team later combined into 1

Difficult issues surfaced that typically remain Difficult issues surfaced that typically remain unspoken (at least publicly)unspoken (at least publicly)

Management team stepped up and transitioned Management team stepped up and transitioned to next level of effective working relationshipsto next level of effective working relationships

When are we at When are we at our best?our best?

Discovering Our Discovering Our MetaphorMetaphor

The Marriage PrincipleThe Marriage Principle

We think strategically, staying up in the We think strategically, staying up in the strategic area without jumping into detail. strategic area without jumping into detail. We do a good job of communicating the We do a good job of communicating the vision. We are talking together now like vision. We are talking together now like never before: honest, open, trusting, never before: honest, open, trusting, respecting. We want to pass it on to the respecting. We want to pass it on to the rest of the group. We are passionate about rest of the group. We are passionate about what we do; we have a sense of urgency what we do; we have a sense of urgency and commitment and we say what we’ll do and commitment and we say what we’ll do and do what we say!and do what we say!

The Marriage MetaphorThe Marriage MetaphorWe complement one anotherWe complement one another——we each have we each have

talents and strengths and we leverage themtalents and strengths and we leverage them

Our products are ourOur products are our childrenchildren——we want them to we want them to be the best, taking time to feedbe the best, taking time to feed them and help them growthem and help them grow

We value differencesWe value differences——respecting and trusting our respecting and trusting our partner to do the right thingpartner to do the right thing

Even when we disagree we support one Even when we disagree we support one anotheranother

We present a common front—We present a common front—united outside Local united outside Local ProductsProducts

Its okay to take separate vacations—Its okay to take separate vacations—trust the trust the time apart; we don’t have to be in everything.time apart; we don’t have to be in everything.

We have funWe have fun

Swiss Army Knife metaphorSwiss Army Knife metaphor

LP PurposeLP Purpose: : Meeting Meeting client needsclient needs

The SAk SymbolThe SAk Symbol::The four directions of The four directions of client need:client need:TimelinessTimelinessProfitabilityProfitabilityQualityQualityInnovationInnovation

The Meaning of LP SAkThe Meaning of LP SAk

Large locking bladeLarge locking bladeSmall locking bladeSmall locking bladeScissorsScissorsFlathead ScrewdriverFlathead ScrewdriverPhillips ScrewdriverPhillips ScrewdriverHole PunchHole PunchNail FileNail FileKey ChainKey ChainBottle OpenerBottle OpenerTweezersTweezersToothpickToothpickCorkscrewCorkscrew

On the cutting edge, sharpOn the cutting edge, sharpCutting to the truthCutting to the truthCut through red tape; KISCut through red tape; KISInnovative linear thinkingInnovative linear thinkingInnovative nonlinear thinkingInnovative nonlinear thinkingWillingness to adjust, flexibleWillingness to adjust, flexibleConflict resolution, smoothConflict resolution, smoothStaying connected, teamworkStaying connected, teamworkStaying openStaying openPluck out the best ideasPluck out the best ideasClearing obstacles, feedbackClearing obstacles, feedbackFun, celebrationFun, celebration

Continued meaning for LP SAkContinued meaning for LP SAk

Straight pinStraight pin

Digital altimeterDigital altimeter

All purpose hookAll purpose hook

ClockClock

AlarmAlarm

TimerTimer

Shackle openerShackle opener

SawSaw

RulerRuler

Pliers Pliers

Trust; do what you sayTrust; do what you say

Think strategicallyThink strategically

Hooking strengths & skillsHooking strengths & skills

Attending to deadlines Attending to deadlines

On time deliverablesOn time deliverables

Time for reflection & innovationTime for reflection & innovation

Creative problem solvingCreative problem solving

Cutting decision timeCutting decision time

Using out LP SAkUsing out LP SAkThe closed knife The closed knife represents our represents our cohesiveness and cohesiveness and united front.united front.

The open knife The open knife shows utilizing our shows utilizing our principles to delight principles to delight our clientour client