Sofronio and his dream: Appreciative Inquiry

 Examining Sofronio Vasquez's journey from the perspective of the 4Ds of Appreciative Inquiry as a facilitator would.

On a brief trip to the Philippines after winning the title in the United States, Sofronio received recognition on the show It's Showtime with Vice Ganda, which hosts a national singing competition Tawag ng Tanghalan in which he competed and received recognition but did not win.

Discovery: "What Gives Life"

Sofronio had an indisputable gift—his amazing voice, the passion, and the discipline for perfection—even though he didn't take home any major awards from Philippine singing competitions. As facilitators, we would concentrate on determining his most memorable moments and fundamental abilities. His path demonstrates that in addition to his vocal prowess, he possessed a profound understanding of music and the capacity to relate to other musicians. The Discovery phase would emphasize how each competition improved his creativity and broadened his knowledge of voice methods, rather than seeing his non-wins as failures.

Dream: Imagining "What Could Be"

When Sofronio went from being a contestant to a vocal instructor, his story took a significant change. This stage shows how broadening one's perspective beyond traditional success indicators might uncover unanticipated possibilities. As facilitators, we would observe the progression of his dream from self-praise to inspiring others. As a coach in TNT to now winners, he has influenced these champions, which is proof that dreams can come true in unexpected ways. Another layer of dreaming is demonstrated by his subsequent choice to try out for The Voice USA, demonstrating that one's own goals can coexist with helping others succeed. In coaching fellow Filipino aspiring singers to win in the competition where they eventually won the title, he wished, “they are now champions, I dream that I can be one too.”

Design: "What Should Be" is co-constructed.

SSofronio's journey serves as an example of how crucial it is to have several routes to success. His transition to coaching serves as an example of how we can create new positions that play to our talents. As facilitators, we would draw attention to the way he crafted a profession that integrated his teaching skills with his vocal expertise. This stage of his trip demonstrates that creating novel strategies rather than sticking to the tried-and-true routes is frequently necessary for success. Another deliberate design decision he made was to relocate to the US (he is a dental assistant), which altered his surroundings and opened up new prospects. After conquering the challenge of blind auditions, he honed his skills and sought assistance. His introversion and loneliness serve as the basis for his transformation when he goes on stage, takes the spotlight and eventually owning the song with his impeccable performance.

(Not drawn though was his preparation to enhance his vocal skills. In his interviews, he would diligently study scores, practice songs on his own.)

Destiny: Creating "What Will Be"

Winning The Voice USA, the peak of Sofronio's career, is the ideal example of the Destiny phase. It demonstrates how his past "failures" served as stepping stones to his eventual triumph. He gained artistic experience as a vocal coach, which helped him win in the end. His motivation is, I am able to help others win the gold, I should be able to do that for myself. In our capacity as facilitators, we would highlight how each stage of his journey—contestant, coach, and champion—built on the one before it to forge a potent future.

Key Lessons for Appreciative Inquiry Practitioners:

1.      Success often looks different from initial expectations. Sofronio's impact as a vocal coach was an unexpected but valuable outcome of his journey.

2.      Strengths can manifest in multiple ways. His vocal talent found expression in performance. Drive, persistence, passion for perfection, discipline, sensitivity, listening skills, intelligence are skills and virtues that propelled his recognition as a champion singer and artist.

3.      What might appear as setbacks can be reframed as preparation for future success. His being an introvert allowed him to internalize the song's messages deeply connecting the message with his audience.

4.      The path to achieving dreams may involve multiple iterations and roles.

1.      The path to achieving dreams may involve multiple iterations and roles.

This narrative demonstrates that Appreciative Inquiry isn't just about positive thinking - it's about recognizing and building upon core strengths, even when they manifest differently than expected. Sofronio's journey from contestant to coach to champion exemplifies how the 4D cycle can unfold in real life, with each phase building upon and enriching the others.

For facilitators, this story provides a powerful example of how persistence, adaptability, and strength-based approaches can lead to extraordinary outcomes. It starts with a roadmap. It reminds us that the Appreciative Inquiry process isn't linear - it's cyclical and iterative, with each phase informing and enhancing the others.

Inputs drawn from social and mainstream media interviews.

4Ds is a training module I learned and facilitated at Coca-Cola building competency of associates and friends.