DISARM CHALLENGE

The DISARM PHASE  is critical to productive relationships with colleagues because it lays the groundwork for dialogue and for exchanges of genuine care and concern for others. The Disarm phase involves four key features that help allay student suspicion and fear, establish rapport, and create a climate that bolsters advisors and advisee productivity:

• Warm welcome
• Safe and comfortable environment
• Appropriate self-disclosure
• Positive non-verbal behavior

(Bloom, J.L., Hutson, B.L., & He, Ye. (2008). The appreciative advising revolution. Champaign, IL: Stipes.)

Possible questions and prompts to consider in the Disarm Challenge:

• How do you greet or introduce yourself to students in ways that communicate care and concern?
• Send a picture and tell us how you have disarmed your office.
• Have you ever sat in the seat provided for students who meet with you? If you have, what did you learn?
• What disarming strategies do you use when you are emailing students? Or when you cannot meet with students face to face?
• Tell us one of your favorite disarming strategies that your colleagues employ.
• Have you ever miscommunicated with a student because of unintentional non-verbal messages? How has your advising practice changed since this discovery?
• What advice do you have for other advisors about how disarming practices have helped your advising practice? 

For more ideas about how to incorporate Appreciative Advising into your professional practice, check out The Appreciative Advising Revolution Training Workbook: Translating Theory to Practice by Bloom, Hutson & He (2014).