Transferring the approach… what does that actually mean?

[Joke D´haese]

ABOUT TRANSFER - When the Constellation team shares its excitement about its approach and the impact it has on their lives, some people want to apply it in their context, and invite us to facilitate them. Together with them, we transfer the approach. The TRANSFER function organizes (at scale) the response to invitations of people and communities to apply the appreciative way of working (SALT) and the CLCP learning cycle.

9 Months after arriving on this Paradise Island, we reflect as a team: how & what of the Constellation approach have we transferred to Mauritius? The question makes us feel very uncomfortable.

Here in Mauritius, we see great strengths emerging: people connecting, deep listening to each other, having fun on this journey together, spreading hope that change on drugs is possible and taking joint action to support that.

But is this something WE transferred? Most certainly not.

We just recognized what was already there. Connected with people. Appreciated some of their strengths. Listened to their dreams. Walked along on their journey, when they invited us.

It made me think back. Did anyone transfer the approach to me? 

When I heard about SALT and CLCP for the first time, it resonated with something within. I recognized something I was already trying to practice in my own life and work.

I was invited to join some of the Constellation activities. I was appreciated for being there, for the things I said and did. Sometimes I would get caught up for months in other activities. But every time I got together with people from the Constellation, I felt the same energy and inspiration. It made me want to create more of this in my own life, and invite others to join the party.

Being on this road, I’m meeting more and more people with a similar intuition and similar experiences. I just love connecting with them, learning from them and taking small bits of action together.

Is that what you call transfer? 

[Marie Lamboray]

Hi Joke,

Please take a look at Robyn Stratton-Berkessel's Positivity Strategic Podcast with Jean-Louis Lamboray. He, among many other things, talk about How to Start a Positive Epidemic.

[Kaj Voetmann]

Hi Joke

I think you describe a very common experience.

Let me take you back in time to the originale version of the 4D model of AI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the center of the 4D model you have the most important part if you want to achieve transfer:

The Affirmative Topic Choice - made for and by the community.

Charles Elliott made book called 'Locating the energy for change - Introducing Appreciative Inquiry' where he tell about this. You can get the book for free here

http://www.iisd.org/pdf/appreciativeinquiry.pdf

AI tend to ignite lots of personale hope and energy but the transfer will probably first take off if you have a good Affirmative Topic Choice.

In Nepal they added 3 extra D's so they have a 7D model.

Doing is necessary to get thigs done (which can explain missing transfer)

Dancing and Drumming is what they do in Nepal when they celebrate their successes. When you get to Dancing and Drumming you can be sure that there is visible Transfer.

Some of the ideas that are spread with AI also make it hard to achieve success. The main challenge I see is that we forget that change involves timeconsuming efforts. If you expect miracles to happen by themselves - which could be connected to slogans like 'Change at the speed of imagination' then you will learn that success comes from 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Design and Implementation takes time and effort.

If you invest the time and effort, you will be amazed at the results you will be able to create. Some results come fast others take a bit longer.

The amount of energy you create also connect to how large your dreams are. Large dreams that are formulated positively may bring you much further that small dreams formulated negatively. Take look at the chapter on Provocative Propositions in Charles Elliots book.

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Hi Joke, thanks for stimulating me to respond. But my response is in the form of two questions:-) 

1. In your experience what is the difference between share and transfer?
2. What encourages you to share and transfer the approach?