Sarah Lewis is the founder and managing director of Appreciating Change in the UK. Sarah consults for organizations around the world on how to effectively create sustainable change.

In this conversation, you will hear Sarah talk about her philosophies on change and how she helps organizations through the change process. We discuss the questions that must be asked to unleash change. Often, the questions asked pertain to what is going wrong or what is broken. Instead, Sarah talks about the questions that need to be asked to unleash the power to move forward through positive change. Sarah also explains some other methodology for positive change, like World Cafe and Simu-Real.

In the Lightning Round, Sarah shares several authors and books for which she has great appreciation. She also shares that “positivity is a state as well as a trait.”These methodologies are not about ignoring the negativity in life, but rather to help us get to a state where we are coping and thriving.

You’ll Learn:

• [01:30] - Sarah shares the advice she gives organizations wanting to bring out the best in their people during the change process.
• [3:21] - Sarah talks about getting leaders to embrace a more system change, rather than a top-down implemented change.
• [07:10] - Sarah talks about the questions that need to be asked to unleash the power to move forward.
• [10:04] - Sarah talks about the burning platform and while that might be productive in the short-term, there is difficulty with sustaining that change.
• [16:27] - Sarah explains the World Cafe and Simu-Real methodologies for change.
• [22:45] - The Lightning Round with Sarah Lewis.

Your Resources:

Sarah Lewis’ Website Sarah Lewis’ books on Amazon Kim Cameron’s books David Cooperrider’s books Collaborating for Change: Appreciative Inquiry - David Cooperrider et al. The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today’s Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems - Peggy Holman and Tom Devane

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Until next time, take care!