EXERCISE 16.4
Happiness/Well-Being
Attitude of Gratitude
Purpose
To experience how an attitude of gratitude and expectation expands the palette of possibilities for creating hope and happiness.
Thumbnail
30 to 50 minutes
The team or individual focuses on what he or she is good at and what has been done successfully. Participants “dream” of what they can do to build on what they’ve done well. (Note: It will be helpful if the facilitator has an awareness of the appreciative inquiry process.)
Outcomes
- Greater self-appreciation
- Increased confidence
- Expanded happiness
Audience
- Intact team
- Unaffiliated group
- Individual working with a coach
Facilitator Competencies 
Easy to Moderate
Materials
- (Team) Flip chart and colored markers
- (Individual) Paper and pens
Time Matrix
| Activity | Estimated Time |
| Discuss concept of an appreciative approach | 5–10 minutes |
| Share occurrences of excellence | 5 minutes |
| Envision future | 5 minutes |
| Discuss how they feel | 5–10 minutes |
| Reconvene and debrief (team only) | 5–10 minutes |
| Actions after session and wrap-up | 5–10 minutes |
| Total | 30 to 50 minutes |
Instructions
1. This exercise is based on appreciation, as understood through the appreciative inquiry process. Discuss with the group the power of focusing on the positive. Discuss these points:
- When the focus is on problems—“Where do they exist?” and “How many are there?” and “How do we fix them?,” you will always find problems. In fact, you find more and more of them. The focus on problems can exacerbate them or make them seem more dire.
- Appreciative inquiry research has shown that highlighting and sharing instances of excellence ignites its proliferation. (Refer to the article “What Is Appreciative Inquiry?” www.thinbook.com/chap11fromle.html for more information.)
2. Hand out paper and pens. Ask participants to remain silent for three minutes and think in detail about:
- (For a team) When the team or organization was at its best.
- (For an individual) When he or she was at his or her best.
3. Ask the group or individual to share the information. Record the details about what was excellent about the situation in terms of what event or behavior made it significant. Discuss the impact and the meaning. How did it look? How did it feel? What were people saying? Record their responses on the flip chart.
4. Ask them to envision a positive future based on past or current successes. Record responses.
Team Questions
- What would the organization be like if the type of peak moments we just discussed were the norm instead of the exception?
- How would it look different?
- What would it mean to be part of it?
- What would people be saying?
- How would you feel being part of that organization?
- How would you behave in that organization?
Individual Questions
- What would it mean if peak moments were regular daily occurrences in your life?
- How would it look different?
- What would it mean to be part of it?
- What would people be saying?
- How would you feel about your life?
- How would you behave differently in the workplace? At home with family or friends?
5. Work with the individual or divide the team into groups of two to five to discuss how they feel. Have them respond to these questions:
- Did focusing on the valuable things that have already been done make you feel more hopeful? Why or why not?
- Did you feel happier knowing that greatness is present now and ready to manifest in you, the team, or the organization? Why do you think you felt that way?
6. If working with a team, reconvene and debrief. Ask them to share what they discussed. Capture responses. If working with an individual, capture responses as part of Step 5.
7. Ask what they can do beyond this session to expand their focus on creating more positive situations and outcomes and minimize emphasis on looking for and fixing problems. For example, when a problem surfaces, ask, “When has the organization done this correctly and what were the conditions of that positive situation?” Or, if working with an individual, ask, “When have you done this correctly and what were the conditions of that positive situation?”
8. Gain commitment from the individual or team to experiment further with this positive approach.