And you're probably thinking, what's that all about? What does it mean to "Amplify Positive Deviance"? It's a strange-sounding phrase, and it's got that word "deviant" in it, which can't be good...
So let's parse the phrase, that is, let's break it down into its component parts and see what kind of meaning we can assemble from them.
Deviant is a variant of the root word deviate, which simply means to depart from a standard course or norm. In any organization or system, there is a range of "deviance" from the norm. Some individuals and teams perform much better than average, others don't perform as well.
Positive deviance, then, is departing from the norm in a positive, good, or desirable direction. Those exceptional performers are positive deviants.
Amplify, according to my friend Webster, means to expand; to make larger or greater; to increase the strength or amount of something. So to Amplify Positive Deviance means that we are looking for those elements of the system that are working well and finding ways to get more of them.
Amplify Positive Deviance restates the essence of Appreciative Inquiry - a search for the best in people, their organizations, and the world around them. As an Appreciative practitioner, coach and facilitator, I'm committed to helping you find the best in yourself, your team, your organization, and then find ways to amplify your own and other's positive deviance.
I would like to acknowledge the inspiration for my life's mission. "Amplify Positive Deviance" is a phrase I first encountered in Barbara Waugh's book, The Soul in the Computer, which describes her life as corporate revolutionary in Hewlett Packard. It is one of her tools for empowering individuals and transforming systems. Here are the tools I use:
I've been interviewed by Breakthrough Briefing regarding my online course on the project management side of eLearning: "Maximizing the Value of Your eLearning: Creating a Solid Management and Evaluation Plan"