Let’s Talk: How Appreciative Inquiry Can Help Us Feel Less Alone

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about belonging.

It’s come up in consulting conversations, workshops and even casual chats with friends and colleagues. There’s this quiet thread running through so many of our lives, a longing not just to be included, but to be truly seen and genuinely connected.

And it’s not just a personal observation. The World Health Organization recently declared loneliness a global public health concern, linking it to increased risks of stroke, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and even premature death. According to the former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

That’s staggering.

And yet, not surprising. So many of us are connected, but not necessarily in connection.

This is where I believe Appreciative Inquiry can be incredibly powerful.

Appreciative Inquiry is a strengths-based approach to conversation and change. It’s rooted in the belief that when we focus on what gives life, what’s working, what matters, and what we value we create energy, trust and possibility. Appreciative Inquiry isn’t just for teams or organizations. It’s deeply human. And it can transform our one-on-one conversations too.

When someone asks you a question that makes you pause, smile or reflect in a good way that is Appreciative Inquiry in action.

Building Belonging, One Conversation at a Time

Creating belonging doesn’t require grand gestures. It can start with a warm invitation, a gentle question and presence.

Here are a few Appreciative Inquiry-inspired questions you can ask someone you’d like to know better:

·      What’s something that made you feel really proud recently?

·      When do you feel most like yourself?

·      Who has made a lasting impact on your life?

·      What’s one thing that brings you joy these days?

·      What’s a memory that always makes you smile?

You don’t need a title or a toolkit to use these questions. You just need a little curiosity and care.

An Invitation

Here’s my invitation to you.

Reach out to someone.

Someone you’ve been meaning to connect with, someone new in your circle or someone you sense might be feeling a little alone. Invite them for coffee or a walk. Let them know you’d simply love to talk and your job is to listen.

It might seem like a small thing. But small things done with intention can ripple out in big ways.

We all need moments where we feel seen, heard, and valued.

And in a world where loneliness is rising, your willingness to connect might be the very thing someone else needs most.

Let’s create more belonging, one question, one conversation, one coffee at a time.

I'd love to hear how you're creating connection in your own life. Drop me an email. aderonke@abwilsonconsulting.com I’m always up for a good conversation.