Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Style for Reconciliation presented by Sheryl Mylan, College of Du Page

Academic departments should be places of collegiality, respect and appreciation for others' points of view. Unfortunately, they are often sites of contention, where deep-seated hostilities and resentments poison the mind and spirit. These tensions may exist between colleagues or between faculty and administration and impede the ability to create a positive and productive department. Appreciative inquiry is a narrative-based method of leadership, based on strengths not deficits, which uses the imagination to heal past wounds and move into a positive future.