Sarah Lewis - Positive Psychology at Work: How Positive Leadership and Appreciative Inquiry Create Inspiring Organizations

This edition first published 2011

2011 Sarah Lewis

Wiley-Blackwell is an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, formed by the merger of Wileys global Scientific, Technical and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing.

Registered Office

John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, United Kingdom

Editorial Offices

The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK

350 Main Street, Malden, MA 021485020, USA

9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK

For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell.

The right of Sarah Lewis to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lewis, Sarah, 1957

Positive psychology at work : how positive leadership and appreciative inquiry create inspiring organizations / Sarah Lewis.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-470-68320-0 (cloth)

1. Leadership. 2. Positive psychology. 3. Organizational change. I. Title.

HD57.7.L49 2011

158.7dc22 2010039783

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This book is published in the following electronic formats: ePDF 9781119990406; epub 9781119996217; Wiley Online Library 9781119990390

To Stewart Smith, my husband,
whose gift of love sustains me

Sarah Lewis is a fully qualified chartered psychologist, an Associated Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a founder and principal member of the Association of Business Psychologists. She holds a masters degree in occupational and organizational psychology, attained with distinction, and a certificate in systemic consultation. She is a specialist Appreciative Inquiry practitioner and an expert at facilitating large group events.

She is the managing director of Appreciating Change and is an experienced organizational consultant and facilitator. She has been actively involved in helping people and organizations change their behaviour for 25 years. Her clients include local government, central government, not-for-profit organizations and private sector clients, particularly in the manufacturing, financial and educational sectors.

When positive psychology burst onto the scene, Sarah quickly realized that work in this area both chimed with her practice and offered robust theoretical support to Appreciative Inquiry as an approach to organizational change. She integrates these two approaches in her work and is delighted to be able to extend, explore and share this connection in this book.

Sarah has lectured at postgraduate level and continues to be a regular conference presenter in the UK. She writes regularly for publication and is the lead author of Appreciative Inquiry for Change Management: Using AI to Facilitate Organizational Development, published by Kogan Page in 2007.

Sarahs work can be viewed on her website (

Alastair J. M. Arnott, Subject Leader of Performing Arts St Pauls Way Trust School, MSc Applied Positive Psychology postgraduate student, Results Certified Coach Level 1.

James Butcher, owner of Work Without Walls. Specializes in appreciative learning helping people learn from their strengths and successes. www.work-without-walls.co.uk, ++44 (0)1303863581, ++44 (0)7976898782. Based in Kent, UK

Wendy Campbell, Founding (1989) and Managing Director of The Glastonbury Company Pty Ltd, Creator of The Resilient Leadership Program for Community Change Leaders. , ++61 (0)893828071

Kate Coutts is a head teacher in Unst, Shetland, and has background in research. She also works in the private and public sector on leadership development. metasaga.wikispaces.com;

Jane Filby, Director of Planning and Resources, Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. Expertise in load and financial models in HE, management of HE and reward structures.

Ewa Francis, learning and development professional, specializing in designing and facilitating people development solutions: personal effectiveness workshops, management development, coaching, mentoring. ; ++44 (0)7800546291. Based in Surrey, UK and Poland

Mario Gastaldi, owner of Brain Team Consulting. Specializes in designing and facilitating spaces and conversations, live and on-line, leading to engaged change and collaboration. , ++39 (0)3489330978

Karena Gomez, C.Psychol. FCIPD. Consultant at KPMG. Specializes in unlocking organization and individual learning to deliver whole-system change. , ++44 (0)7919808452. Based in Leeds, UK

Helen Higson, Professor of Higher Education Learning and Management and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. Specializes in employability competences and intercultural learning. , ++44 (0)1212043191

Clive Hutchinson, Company Leader of Cougar Automation. Trained as an engineer and then a manager, Clive now devotes himself to helping people become free to play to their strengths

Louisa Jewell, MAPP, Consultant and Facilitator specializing in creating positive and productive workplaces. , 1-416-481-8930. Based in Toronto, Canada

Joep C. de Jong, CEO at Van Harte & Lingsma. Co-founder of AI Consultancy and has expertise in the practical, daily use of Appreciative Inquiry, special interest in Appreciative Leadership. , ++31 (0)715191600; ++31 (0)654396936

Leif Josefsson, Metaspace facilitator, coach, networker. Explorer of new technology and thinking. On a learning journey, whether its with his two-year-old grandchild or Maasai partner Rafael. www.metaspace.se. Based in Stockholm, Sweden

George Karseras is a chartered occupational psychologist and a Director of Leap Partnership, a boutique consultancy specializing in aligning organizational mindsets to organizational strategy. www.leappartnership.co.uk, ++44 (0)7976789366

Vanessa King, Master Applied Positive Psychology, University of Pennsylvania. Partner, ChangeAble Consulting LLP. Specializing in leadership development, positive change, and creative thinking. www.changeable.org.uk, ++44 (0)7989337083. Based in UK, works internationally

Martin Leavy, Training Development Manager, Dublin City University. Specializes in the design, delivery of training and development interventions together with supporting organizational change. www.dcu.ie, ++353 17005147. Based in Dublin, Ireland