Unprofessionalism
Professional performance is exhausting. Maintaining the mask. Editing ourselves. Pretending we know when we don't.
This podcast is about people who dropped the performance. And what happened next.
Each episode features someone who broke professional conventions and found something better on the other side: the executive who disclosed grief in a corporate setting and found it opened new ways of relating; the coach who realised her authority came from integrity, not compliance; the designer who ignored the 'approved tools' and saved thousands of hours.
Conversations circle around three questions:
- What does it cost us to perform professionalism instead of showing up as ourselves?
- How do we create spaces where people can bring their full attention and humanity to work?
- When is the “unprofessional” move actually the most responsible one?
If you feel the tension between who you are and who you're expected to be at work, this podcast shows you what happens when people stop managing that tension and just stop performing.
Hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes—behavioural economist and founder of workshops.work. New episode every week.
Unprofessionalism
063 - Let’s Bring Some Appreciative Inquiry To Your Workshops! with Laure Cohen van Delft
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When I first read about AI and facilitation, I was worried the robots were coming for my job… but then I spoke with Laure Cohen van Delft and realised AI is a most welcome addition to our profession!
This is because AI, in this context, refers to Appreciative Inquiry – a framework and approach that facilitates purposeful change in organisations. The approach is centred on outcomes that grow in value (Appreciate) and a curious mindset (Inquiry).
AI encompasses many facets of other facilitative approaches that are joined together by the belief that every living system has potential for growth.
Laure’s explanation of AI is fascinating – a truly unique perspective – and every facilitator can learn something from her.
Find out about:
- How Laure utilises LEGO Serious Play within her workshops
- What Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is
- How AI can be practiced in workshops
- Why AI can be so effective
- The outcomes made possible by designing a workshop around AI
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A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!
Questions and Answers
[01:44] When did you first call yourself a facilitator?
[03:06] What does facilitation mean to you?
[06:08] What have you learned from LEGO Serious Play?
[09:55] How do you define Appreciative Inquiry (AI)?
[14:34] Is there a specific structure to AI?
[24:05] How do we put the principles of AI together in a workshop?
[38:08] What is your favourite question to ask in a workshop?
[42:06] What makes a workshop fail?
[48:10] What is one thing you want listeners to take away from this episode?
Links to check
- David L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry
- AI Commons
- The 5 principles of AI
- Essentials of Appreciative Inquiry by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney and Jacqueline Stavros, 2008
- Encyclopedia of Positive Questions second edition by Diana Whitney, Amanda Trosten-Bloom, David Cooperrider and Brian S. Kaplin, 2014
Connect with Laure
Any thoughts? Share them with us!
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