VCU’s CommitmentToaCultureofAppreciation

AmyJ.ArmstrongConflictResolutionDay

Civility

• 74%of1005USAdultsbelievecivilityhasdeclinedinthepastfewyears.

• (CivilityinAmerica,2016).

• 70%sayincivilityhasrisentocrisislevels.

• WorkplacestresscoststheUSeconomy$300billion/year• (APA)

ImpactofIncivility• WorkReduction 48%• QualityReduction 38%• LostWorkTime 68%

• Managers&Execsspent13%oftime(=7weeksayear)mendingemployeerelationships/dealingwiththeaftermathofincivility. Connelly,1994

• 80%ofcustomerswhohavenotseenemployeestreatoneanotherpoorlywoulduseproducts/servicesinfuture.

• Only20%whohadwitnessedincivilitysaidtheywoulduseservices.• 2/3statedtheywouldfeelanxiousdealingwithanyemployeeofthatcompany.

• 1in8employeesleave. VCU=2,861potentialemployees

• Porath,MacInnis &Folkes,2010;Porath,2017

Culture• Vision• Values• Practices• People• Place• Narrative• ImplicitAssumptions• Consciouscontracts&norms-rules&procedures

• Artifacts:building,mission,goals,howwerecognizepeople.

• Explicitbehaviors

VCU Mission StatementAsthepremierurban,publicresearchuniversityinthestate,VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity’smissionistoadvanceknowledgeandstudentsuccessthroughitscommitmentsto:

• Anengaged,learner-centeredenvironmentthatfostersinquiry,discoveryandinnovationinaglobalsetting

• Researchthatexpandstheboundariesofnewknowledgeandcreativeexpressionandpromotestranslationalapplicationstoimprovehumanhealth

• Interdisciplinarycollaborationsthatbringnewperspectivestocomplexproblemsandmobilizecreativeenergiesthatadvanceinnovationandsolveglobalchallenges

• Healthcarethatstrivestopreserveandrestorehealthforallpeople,toseekthecauseandcureofdiseasesthroughgroundbreakingresearchandtoeducatethosewhoservehumanity

• Diversitythatprovidesaclimateofinclusion,adedicationtoaddressingdisparitieswherevertheyexistandanopportunitytoexploreandcreateinanenvironmentoftrust

• Sustainableuniversity-communitypartnershipsthatenhancetheeducational,economicandculturalvitalityofthecommunitiesVCUservesinVirginiaandaroundtheworld

VCU Code of ConductEthical Standards• Respect

• Wewillrespectindividuals,diversityandtherightsofothers.• Honesty

• Wewillactandcommunicatehonestlyandcandidly.• Wewillnotmisleadothers.

• Excellence• Wewillstriveforexcellence inallthatwedo.

• Responsibility&Accountability• Wewillberesponsibleandaccountableforourdecisionsandactions.

• Stewardship• Wewillbegoodstewardsoftheresourcesentrustedtotheuniversity.

• Compliance• Weunderstandandcomplywiththecodes,laws,regulations,policiesandproceduresthatgovernouruniversityactivities.

VCU Strategic Plan 2025: Excellence & Access• LocalImpactandSocialEmbeddedness• NationalProminence• StudentSuccess• LeveragingDiversity• CultureofAppreciation

VCU Strategic Plan 2025Leveraging Diversity

Ouraim:VCUiscommittedto,reflectsandpursuesinclusiveexcellenceinallthatitis,doesandaspirestobe.ToleveragediversityistotakefulladvantageoftheuniquecharacterandqualityofVCUtomakethewholegreaterthantheindividualparts

Leveraging DiversityWewillmakeVCUdistinctiveby:

• Embracingdifference– valuingandrespectingmembersofourcommunity

• Engagingdifference–membersofthecommunitycanheartheirownvoiceinthelargernarrativeoftheuniversity

• Empoweringdifference–membersofthecommunitycanthrive• Ownership– 91%ofclimatesurveyrespondentsfeelaresponsibilitytoworktowardsaninclusiveanddiverseVCU

• Becomingarolemodelforotheruniversities- Thereisoptimismaboutwhoweareandcanbeasamodelandbeaconforotherinstitutions.

Culture of AppreciationOuraim:

1. VCUstrivestodevelopauniversity-widecultureofappreciationthatisreflectedinday-to-daybehaviors,activitiesandcampuslife,whichwillbeenhancedbyformalandinformalrecognitionandawards

Threegoals:• AllVCUadministrativeandacademicunitshaveanactiveappreciationenvironmentreflectedbyidentifiablebehaviorandeffortsthatfosterongoingappreciation

• AllVCUadministrativeandacademicunitswillhaveaformalrecognitionandawardssystemforexemplarybehaviors

• AllVCUadministrativeandacademicunitswillhavealeadershipcompetencyofexhibitingandfosteringacultureofappreciationwithintheunit

Culture of AppreciationOuraim:

2. VCUdevelopsandmaintainsaclimatethatfostersasenseofbelonging,whereallstudentsandemployeesseethemselvesasanintegralandimportantpartoftheVCUcommunity

Twogoals:• AllVCUadministrativeandacademicunitswillincludedevelopingasenseofbelongingintheiroverallunitstrategicplanning

• PartoftheevaluationforVCUadministrativeandacademicunitleadershipwillincludecriteriaonsenseofbelongingandleadersfosteringasenseofbelonging

Culture of AppreciationOuraim:

3. VCUnurturesauniversityenvironmentwhereallpeoplefeelprideinwhattheydo,havemutualtrustwithcolleaguesandaretreatedfairlyandwithrespect

Fourgoals:• Feelprideinwhattheydo• Mutualtrustwithcolleagues• Treatedfairly• Treatedwithrespect

CultureofAppreciation

• AnorganizationthatvaluesandfacilitatesaCultureofAppreciation(CoA)isgroundedinsustainableappreciativepractices designedtoenhanceemployeeengagementandorganizationalperformance.

• Framework:EvidencebasedpracticesassociatedwithPositivePsychology,AppreciativeInquiry&Leadership,andPositiveOrganizationalDevelopment.

• Extendsbeyondacultureofrecognitionandseekstoestablishapervasiveclimatethatisrelational,generativeandaspirational.

• ACoAwillhaveasustainableimpactuponpersonnelrecruitment,retention,performance,customersatisfactionandwellbeing.

Armstrong

EngagedEmployees

• Significantlyhigherperformanceoutcomescomparedtothosethataredisengaged.

• 10%increaseincustomersatisfaction;• 21%increaseinproductivity;• 22%increaseinprofitability;And…• 37%lowerabsenteeism;• 25%to45%lowerturn-over;• 41%fewerqualitydefects.

Gallup

AllroadsleadingtoCulturalChange atVCU• Mission/EthicalStandards• StrategicPlan• HRRedesign• LeadershipDevelopment…FacultyandStaff

• DirectorofLearning,OrganizationalDevelopment&Culture

• FacultyandStaffTrainings• RecognitionCeremonies&Routines

Keytopervasiveandlastingchange…Us.

• Studyandexplorationofwhatgiveslifetohumansystemswhentheyfunctionattheirbest.• Positivestrengths-basedapproachtochange.• Relational,Generative,Aspirational

Cooperrider, Whitney,Trosten-Bloom

• Beingabletoseethegenerativepotentialinanygivensituation.• Seeingthemightyoakintheacorn.

Thatchenkery &Metzger

• ThesimpleactofapplyingAppreciativeInquirytoeverydaylife.• Naturallyseeingthepostiveaspects&potentialinwhatishappening,&creatingsomethingevenbetter.

• Learningtofindwhatisright.• Strengths,Gifts,PositivePossibilities

Kelm

• Relational capacitytomobilizecreativepotential tomakeadifferenceintheworld.• PositivePsychology• StrengthsMovement• AppreciativeInquiry

Whitney,Trosten-Bloom &Rader

PowerofAppreciation

Seeingthebestinotherswithoutbeingblindtotheirweaknesses,and…perceivingthegreatestpossiblegoodinallsituationswhilebeingalerttowhatwillandwon’tworkforyou.

• (Nelson&Calaba)

ThePowerofAppreciation3FactsAboutHumanBeings1. Exceptionality…weareall

exceptionaltotherule.Unique.

2. Essentiality…notseenascentralbutasessential.Notaresource,butasource.TheSun,Energy,Creativity.

3. Equalityofvoice…allhaveafullvoice.

Cooperrider

Change creates emotion… The hard stuff’s

the easy stuff. The soft stuff’s the hard

stuff. Organizational change is 90% a

people deal. Tom Malone

WhatisyourcommitmenttofosteringaCoA?

ACoAisRelational

…weenergizeoneanothercreatingarippleeffect.

Describeatimeinwhichyoupersonallyfeltappreciatedoratimeyouappreciatedafriend,familymemberorcolleague.

• Whatdiditfeellike?• Whatdiditlooklike?• Whathappenedsothatyourecognizedthisasan

appreciativemoment?• Howdiditimpacttheinteraction?• Whatcontributiondiditmaketoyourlifeand/orthe

workplace?

Whatarethefeatures/elements/componentsofanidealrelationship(inworkandinlife)?

Whatisyourabilitytodevelophighqualityconnections?…Mutuality,Respect,Trust.

WhatisYourRelationalEnergy?

ACoAisGenerative…

…positivitybroadensourthinkingtowardcreativity.

Thecausesofourconflict…

…Oftenhavenothingtodowiththeissueswearefightingover,andcanbecorrectedthroughlearninganddialogue…Mostarisefrom:

• simplemiscommunications;• simplemisunderstandings;• seeminglyirrelevantdifferences,• poorchoicesoflanguage,• ineffectivemanagementstyles,• unclearrolesandresponsibilities;• andfalseexpectations.

• AICommonsWebsite

Reframe“conflict”asanopportunityforcreatinganidealworking/livingrelationship.

Give More:

• Findthepositivecore,• Shareresources,• Practicehumilityandsharecreditwiththosewhocontributed,

• Payattentionhowyougivefeedback&understandothersemotions,

• Providepeoplewithasenseofmeaningfulness…howistheirworkpositivelyaffectingothers.

• Liberateother’screativepotential.

Examine the PositiveFactors in the Relationship:

• What is working in the relationship?

• What are the benefits of the relationship?

• Tell me about a time when you successfully worked together?

• What do we agree on?• What are our individual/team

strengths?

Positive Things that Come Out of Conflict?• Increasedmotivationandenergyavailabletoapplytorequiredtasks.• Increasedinnovativenessofindividualsandthesystem-becauseof

greaterdiversityofviewpointsandaheightenedsenseofnecessity.• Developmentofanincreasedunderstandingofindividualsʼ own

position- becausetheconflictforcesthemtoarticulatetheirviewsandtobringforthsupportingagreements.

• Eachpartymayachievegreaterawarenessoftheirownidentity.• Participantslearnmethodstomanagetheirowninternalconflicts.

AppreciativeInquiryCommons

ReflectonWhatyouAreAlreadyDoingtoUplifttheResilienceofOthers?

1. Howareyoucurrentlyupliftingwhatothersarebestat?Whatmoremightyoudo?

2. Howareyoubuildinggenerativerelationshipsinyourlifeandwork?Whatmoremightyoudo?

• Usingappreciativequestions(AsktoTellratio);Curiosity?• Buildingothersup?FocusingonStrengths?• AssumingPositiveIntent?

• McArthur-Blair&Cockell

ACoAisAspirational…abiastowardintentionalaction.Whatwedonowwillbuildit.

GrantmetheserenitytoacceptthepeopleIcannotchange,thecouragetochangetheoneIcan,andthewisdomtoknowitisme.

• Theresolutionofconflictandthediscoveryofabetterwayofbeing,workingandlivingintheworldoccursimultaneously.

• Facethedarksideofourownparticipationinconflict…torecognize:

• Itsextraordinarycapacitytotransformourlivesbyshiftingthewayweactandunderstandourselves,howweexperienceothersandconductourrelationships,andhowwelearnandgrow.

BeingAI

• ThedailypracticeofanAppreciativeInquirymindset—waysofseeingtheworld,beinganddoing.Thispracticeincludes:

• Reframingproblemsintopossibilities&threatsintoopportunities.• Seeingthestrengthsandsuccessesofindividuals,groups,andorganizations.• BeingAIiskeytoAppreciativeResilience…dailypractice.

1. AppreciatingWhatIs.2. ImaginingtheIdeal.3. ActinginAlignment.

• McArthur-Blair&Cockell;Kelm

AppreciativeIntelligence

Qualities:1. Persistence:ofthoughtuntilagoalisachieved.2. Convictionthatone’sactionsmatter… canachieveagoalor

performatask.3. Toleranceforuncertainty:usethechaosofambiguousideasto

sparkinnovation&creativity.4. Irrepressibleresilience:channelenergywithfocusand

determinationtoaccomplishgoalsinthefaceofchallenges.

Thatchenkery &Metzger

ReframingConflict

• Empathy:identifyandunderstandtheemotionsoftheperson.

• Letgoofyourego.• Appreciation:Recognizeandappreciatethattheotherpersoniscomingfromaperspectiveofgoodintentions.

• Searchforsolutions:Thinkofalternativepositionsthatmayrepresentacompromise.

• Explore:waystohaveproductivediscussion.

• Seetheopportunitiesforgrowth.

WhatdoesaCoAlooklike?• AfocusonSTRENGTHS.• AfocusonABUNDANCE (whatworkswellwhenweareatourbest).

• Opportunities/supportforGROWTHandLEARNING (personal&professional).

• Opportunities/supporttobeCREATIVE andINNOVATIVE.

• LEADERSHIP Development&Training.

• FosteringWELLBEING ofemployees.• INTERDISCIPLINARY collaborations.

• ConnectingWORK TOMEANING/PURPOSE…asharedvision/mission.

• CommunityEngagement• Connectingworktocustomers.• Sharedplanningandimplementationofactionablegoals.

• DevelopingHIGH QUALITYCONNECTIONS(positiveenergy&communication;empathy,compassion).

• CIVILITY&RESPECT• RECOGNIZING,CELEBRATING,SHARINGsuccesses.

• Fosteringpositiveidentities &relationships.

• Armstrong,basedonAI,PP,&POD

How do you foster a climate/culture of inclusion, positivity & appreciation?What3 thingscanyoudowhenyouleavethismeetingtofosteraCultureofAppreciation?

Mymissioninlifeisnottomerelysurvive,buttothrive;andtodosowithsomepassion,somecompassion,somehumorandsomestyle.

MayaAngelou