Identifying the "Positive Core" is central to Appreciative Inquiry, a method of positive organizational change pioneered right here at Cleveland's own Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management. The positive core is the unique essence of an organization or, dare I say, person. It's the sum of the assets and strengths and what makes an organization/person perform at the highest level.
In case you're reading this and thinking it's academic jargon, think again. Consider your unorganized child who tries your patience every day--from the disastrous bedroom to the overflowing desk, messy backpack, terrible handwriting and so on. Very frustrating and worrisome. Doesn't little Johnny know by now that unless he can find his notebooks he can't do his homework? How could he not see that only if the teacher can read his writing will he get credit for the correct answers? How do we fix his problem? Just what will make him comply? Infuriating. Isn't it?
While the name was changed to protect the innocent, this child isn't exactly a fictional character. Instead of spending a lifetime fixing him, let's figure out what he's really good at. By asking the right questions and observing when he performs at his best, we see his positive core. It turns out he's brilliant (with test scores to prove it) and excels at so much when given the opportunity--math, reading, basketball, piano, etc. He also has a heart of gold and is determined to change the world. So what does a parent do with this knowledge? Continue correcting him and explaining the shortfalls? No. Amplify the positive! Exactly how best to do that isn't simple, but it's clear that there's so much to work with and build on. Identifying the positive is the starting point.
I feel the same way about my beloved city, Cleveland. Once a leading manufacturing center, it fell on hard times much like other urban areas. So many efforts by well-meaning people to find the magic bullet have launched and fizzled. The questions have gone like this: How do we fix Cleveland? How can Cleveland become the next (fill in the blank...Silicon Valley, etc.)? How and do we work to bring back manufacturing? Is our future in high tech? Is it biotech? Is regional government the way to go? What about the school system? The drop-out rate? The lack of vision and direction?
Let's STOP the madness. We don't want to be like any other place. Let's turn the questions on their heads. How about asking ourselves and each other questions that reveal the gold in Cleveland's heart? What if we start with some of these: How can we capitalize on our incredibly valuable Lake Erie and our enviable international port? How do we best celebrate our ethnic and racial diversity? How can we build on our history of industrial prominence and our unrivaled ability to make things? How do we utilize and support our amazing cultural, academic and healthcare institutions? Most importantly, how do we recognize, reward and build on the unmatched work ethic, resilience and generosity of our people?
If I've learned anything from those pioneers at Weatherhead, it's this: The question begins the change. Let's start by asking the right questions and the answers will come. Cleveland has a soul. It has assets and strengths by the bucket load. Let's identify our beloved city's positive core and amplify it. I pledge to do my part. How about you?
