Appreciative Leadership: Definition

Appreciative Leadership is the relational capacity to mobilize creative potential and turn it into positive power—to set in motion positive ripples of confidence, energy, enthusiasm, and performance—to make a positive difference in the world.

Embedded in this definition are four formative ideas that give meaning to Appreciative Leadership:
1. It involves relational processes and practices through which people come together and make things happen.
2. It is a positive worldview, based on the belief that every person and organization has positive potential.
3. It recognizes potential and turns it into positive power – that is, life-affirming results.
4. It creates waves of positive change rippling outward.

Each of these four ideas represents a paradigm shift in leadership: a clear movement away from the habitual, traditional, and individualistic command and control practices, toward a new normal. The positive, socially generative principles, strategies, and practices of Appreciative Leadership can help you get results.

Whitney, Trosten-Bloom and Rader
Appreciative Leadership: Focus on What Works to Drive Winning Performance and Build a Thriving Organization