Released: February 07, 2005

Capitalizing on Strengths is Topic of 2005 K-State Leadership Seminar

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Focus on the negatives and you – and your organization – may fail to identify the very assets that could serve as a foundation for future successes.

Moving toward a more positive process – Appreciative Inquiry – is the topic of the 2005 K-State Leadership Seminar scheduled March 31 in the K-State Union Ballroom.

Diana Whitney, Ph.D., a central figure in identifying this change management concept while at Case Western Reserve University, will keynote “The Power of Appreciative Inquiry,” said Dan Kahl, K-State Research and Extension PRIDE Coordinator and member of the seminar planning team.

Whitney consults on strategic planning, alliance and partnership building, leadership development and delivering top-notch customer service. She is the author of “The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Guide to Positive Change,” and “The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook.”

“Appreciative Inquiry identifies what is working well and what excites people about their work – then builds on those aspects to approach change positively,” Kahl said.

“As a process, appreciative inquiry can be applied to organizational change, community development, small-group development, or building inter-organizational capacity such as a community coalition,” he said. “The concept has been used to facilitate organizational change for companies such as British Airways and organizations such as UNICEF and Lutheran World Relief, yet also works well in personal, day-to-day living.”

The one-day leadership development opportunity is open to the public. The cost to attend the program, which includes seminar materials, refreshments and lunch, is $20. Registration and refreshments will be available at 8:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 9 a.m. and adjourning at 3:30 p.m.

Space is limited and early reservations are recommended. For a complete brochure and/or registration form, interested persons can go to www.ksu.edu/kcri/leadership. The deadline for registration is March 18.

The annual leadership seminar is sponsored by a number of K-State colleges, departments and leadership programs in cooperation with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Manhattan. A list of sponsoring agencies is available at the Web address.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Nancy Peterson
nancyp@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News