Appreciative Inquiry: A methodology to strengthen soft skills

Beautiful Soul has joined forces with Force N’s  program to promote the development of young people’s soft skills focussed on the following theme: "How to contribute positively to the organization that places its trust in me and to be an active participant in my own career”. 

Four bootcamps were organized for over 200 students from all over Senegal on September 16th and 23rd, 2023 in different Espaces Numériques Ouverts at the Université Numérique Cheikh Hamidou Kane. One of these bootcamps brought together the best female learners in the program resulting in a real celebration of female excellence. The bootcamps generated transformative experiences for the young participants, truly catalyzing the potential of their diverse talents.

The effectiveness of the Force N bootcamps lies in the methodology and tools we use, the main one being that of Appreciative Inquiry. We simplified the process while retaining the essence of this methodology and adapted it to meet the specific needs of the young participants. Appreciative Inquiry is an approach to change management designed to bring out the positive qualities in people, energizing them to create their desired future. Young people were encouraged to tap into their inner resources and strengths to take ownership of the development of their careers.

Appreciative Inquiry has the power to transform. Participants arrive at the session with many doubts and anxieties about their abilities. After the first step, which consists of an exchange in pairs, participants start to discover more about their existing talents, which in turn ignites their self-confidence. Following this a noticeable change takes place; participants start to voice their opinions and to play a more active role. We support participants throughout the process to take a step back and get a fresh perspective on themselves and their relationships with others, starting with work in pairs, then in groups, and followed by drawing up individual action plans.       

"I really enjoyed this experience. Before, I couldn't even express myself in public but now I can say with certainty, thanks to the bootcamp, I have confidence in myself."

"I now know what areas I need to improve in order to move forward positively."

"The bootcamp enabled me to acquire new skills; I'm now more confident."

"We all have skills and we just need to know how to develop them."

The bootcamps had a profound impact on my vision of coaching and the positive influence we can have on young people. The methodology we used, Appreciative Inquiry, focuses on the positive qualities and attributes in an individual and this focus greatly helped to instill confidence and motivation in the young participants, encouraging them to explore their inner capacities. Seeing the young people overcome their fears and develop their communication and leadership skills was a constant source of inspiration. Feedback from participants reinforced my belief in the power of a supportive coaching environment to unlock young people's potential. I feel enriched professionally and also motivated by the certainty that every young person has potential, often unexplored, and with the right guidance, we can help them shape a promising future for themselves. 

Ndèye Ramatoulaye Basse