Conversations Worth Having: Transforming Team Culture with Cheri Torres & Jackie Stavros

Buckle up—this week's episode lights the fuse on culture-changing conversations, showing you how a single powerful question can ignite an entire organization! In this episode, Nicole Greer sits down with powerhouse duo Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros, co-authors of Conversations Worth Having, to explore how the practice of Appreciative Inquiry (the other AI) can transform your workplace culture—one conversation at a time. Together, they share practical tools like the SOAR framework and the 5D cycle, explain how to “flip and frame” any problem into a growth opportunity, and reveal the neuroscience behind positive conversations. Packed with real-world stories from healthcare, manufacturing, and education, this episode shows you how to shift meetings from draining to energizing—starting with a single generative question. Whether you lead a team, run a business, or want to communicate more effectively, this episode will equip you with simple but powerful practices that create clarity, connection, and real results. Highlights from this episode: [00:03:10] What Is Appreciative Inquiry? Jackie defines Appreciative Inquiry as "the other AI"—a strength-based approach that focuses on what's working, what was, and what could be. [00:14:14] Generative Questions Unlock Human Potential. Learn what makes a question “generative” and how it invites energy, ideas, and inclusion. [00:22:21] Name It, Flip It, Frame It. The core technique for reframing challenges into conversations worth having, illustrated with a hospital case study. [00:39:05] Introducing SOAR. The SOAR model (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) is presented as a practical alternative to SWOT analysis. [00:46:52] The Neuroscience of Conversation Cheri explains how threat-based conversations shut down the brain—and how positive engagement lights it up. Get the book here: https://a.co/d/hNaQysC CWH Foundations Course: https://www.conversationsworthhaving.today/foundations **Use coupon code VIBRANTCULTURE and get 30% off the course! Expires 8/31/25** Also mentioned in this episode: FeedForward concept, Marshall Goldsmith: https://www.marshallgoldsmith.com/post/try-feedforward-instead-of-feedback Appreciative Inquiry, David Cooperrider: https://a.co/d/esUdQ3x Connect with Cheri & Jackie: Website https://www.conversationsworthhaving.today/ Cheri LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbtorres/ Jackie LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-stavros-0b45824/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cwhtoday/ Listen today at www.vibrantculture.com/podcast or your favorite podcast platform! Learn more about Nicole Greer, the Vibrant Coach: https://www.vibrantculture.com/