Practitioner tool: Sample appreciative inquiry questions (phase 3: Discover)
| Traditional (deficit-focused) diagnostic questions | Positive DEI (strength-focused) inquiry questions |
|---|---|
| Why do we have so many unconscious biases that damage our culture? | Discover: Describe a moment when you felt the most included, valued and energized here. What specific actions, people, or beliefs made that moment possible? |
| What are the main barriers and breakdowns in our promotion process for diverse talent? | Discover: Identify a time when your team successfully recruited a diverse candidate who went on to be exceptionally high performing. What specific strengths and capacities did you assess that led to this success? |
| What is the most significant organizational injustice we need to fix? | Discover: What is the organization's highest ambition regarding equity? Where are we already achieving a glimpse of that ideal? |
| How do we stop dominant groups from “hunkering down” and resisting change? | Discover: Think of a time when the organization worked with a strong sense of purpose. How did that purpose buffer the team against negative pressures or internal conflicts, turning a challenge into a collective opportunity? |
| Traditional (deficit-focused) diagnostic questions | Positive DEI (strength-focused) inquiry questions |
|---|---|
| Why do we have so many unconscious biases that damage our culture? | Discover: Describe a moment when you felt the most included, valued and energized here. What specific actions, people, or beliefs made that moment possible? |
| What are the main barriers and breakdowns in our promotion process for diverse talent? | Discover: Identify a time when your team successfully recruited a diverse candidate who went on to be exceptionally high performing. What specific strengths and capacities did you assess that led to this success? |
| What is the most significant organizational injustice we need to fix? | Discover: What is the organization's highest ambition regarding equity? Where are we already achieving a |
| How do we stop dominant groups from “hunkering down” and resisting change? | Discover: Think of a time when the organization worked with a strong sense of purpose. How did that purpose |
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