Strengths-based approaches to planning

Jaime Daignault, OCDDJaime.daignault@ocdd.org

November 3, 2014Snow King Lodge * Jackson, WY

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Frameworks

• Asset Based Community Development – John McKnight www.abcdinstitute.org

• The Golden Circle – Simon Sinekhttp://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en

• Values and beliefs about people, communities and service systems – Bruce Anderson www.communityactivators.com

• Appreciative Inquiry (Google it!)

• Essentialism, Greg McCowanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9x6D09AKBU

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Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD)

• Mobilizing assets present in any community:

– People and their gifts

– Associations of people and their gifts (voluntary)

– Local institutions (hierarchy, governing body, money is exchanged)

– The physical environment of a community

– Exchange of gifts/economy

• Successful community development is asset-based, internally-focused, and relationship-driven

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The Golden Circle

Our purpose, values and

beliefs

Our activities and outputs; how we bring

life to our WHY

Our unique approach; what

sets us apart

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Starting with WHY

• What do we value and believe about…

Com

mun

ities

People with disabilities

Service systems

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Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

• A strengths-based approach to learning about a topic and generating possibilities to make things better

• Helps us discover what works so we can do more of it

• Assumptions of AI

– In every community, organization, or group something works

– What we focus on becomes our reality

– The act of asking questions of an organization, group or community influences the group in some way

– What we want already exists in ourselves, our organizations, and our communities

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Problem solving vs. Appreciative Inquiry

Problem solving Appreciative inquiry

• Identifying the key problems • Identifying the best of what is

• Analyzing root causes • Envisioning what might be

• Searching for possible solutions • Discussing a preferred future

• Developing an action plan • Innovating to create that future

Characteristics: focused on past, deficit-based, focus on problems

Characteristics: future-oriented, asset-based, focus on possibilities

Appreciative Inquiry Cycle

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Collaboration to create a

better experience or

reality

Discovery(Identifying the best of

what is)

Dream(Envisionin

g what might be)

DesignDiscussing a

preferred future

DestinyInnovating to create

that future

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What are our beliefs about people with IDD?

• What is working well for people with IDD and their families right now?

• What are your hopes for people and families experiencing IDD?

• If you could create the perfect world for people and families experiencing IDD, what would their lives be like?

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What are our beliefs about community?

Think about your community or a place in your community that you feel welcome.

• What do you love most about your community?

• If you could live in a perfect community where everyone thrives, what would it look like?

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What are our beliefs about service systems

Think about the DD service system and the agencies that touch the lives of people and families experiencing IDD.

• What is working well with the system right now?

• What would an ideal system look like?

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Using AI framework

• Discover and Dream

– Will develop values and belief statements based Appreciative Inquiry with staff and Council members

– Will outreach on and off the beaten path using similar questions with stakeholders

• Design

– Use what we learn to develop a new five year plan

• Destiny

– Look for opportunities for innovation in communities

– Apply ABCD principles to how we design our work

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Essentialism

• The disciplined pursuit of less but better vs. the undisciplined pursuit of more

• You can do many things averagely well or do a few things superbly well

• If you do the right few things superbly well, you are more likely to increase your contribution overall

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How do we do less better?

• Identify top 1-3 priorities (most critical to our purpose and vision for the future)

• Build a routine filled with the essentials

• Stop saying “yes” to everything we can do

• Ask: Is this the very best use of my time?

• If not, question it or say “no”

• Create space to evaluate how you use your time, meetings you attend, activities you do

• Repeat this review on an ongoing basis