Introduction to solution focused approaches
- 2. GroundrulesWhat is said in the room stays in the roomTake partTake risks – try things outDon’t expect to get your problems solvedStick to timings
- 3. Success Ping-PongTake it in turns to say something that has happened to you in your professional life over the past ten days that represents a success – no matter how small.When it is their turn, if your partner takes longer than 3 seconds to think of something then you score one point for each additional second they take to think of something!Keep taking turns until the time is up.
- 4. Best HopesWhen you walk out of the room at the end of this session, what two or three things would you like to take away that would cause you to feel the session had been a worthwhile use of your time?
- 5. The Problem Focused Cycle
- 8. Circle of InfluenceCircle of Concern Getting the right focus
- 9. QuestionsAsk lots of interesting questions that can only start withWhat….Where….When….How….DO NOT use Who or Why
- 10. Resource InterviewYou have 10 minutes to interview your partner and discover as much as you can about the strengths and skills that enabled them to achieve the success they are describing.Questions you might ask are:“How did you do that?”
- 11. “Who else wouldn’t be surprised you could do this?”
- 12. “What else?”
- 13. “What’s the earliest you can remember doing something like this?”
- 14. “Tell me more about that.”FeedbackUsing the information you have gained from your partner, you have 2 minutes to.....Tell them what skills and strengths you have identified and what evidence you have for saying this.Tell them how you think these skills and strengths must be reflected into their professional life.
- 15. The “Hi Dad......” Test – Pt 1In pairs, list 5 of the most common words or phrases that you regularly hear in NSG to describe how things should be or should aspire to be.e.g. “We aspire to excellence” or “....the preferred place for our employees to work...”
- 16. The “Hi Dad......” Test – Pt 2Apply the “Hi Dad....” test to each of your 5 words or phrases.What are your thoughts about the language that we use to describe success to our colleagues?
- 17. Exceptions – pt1In pairs: Think about a colleague that you do (or have in the past) found troublesome or difficult to deal with. Briefly, describe the issues to your partner.
- 18. Exceptions – pt2Take it in turns to interview your partner about a time when this person either did something well, was less of a problem or your partner coped with them most effectively.Go for detail:“What happened?”, “What else?”, “Tell me more about that?”, etcWere there any other times?
- 21. Described in the present
- 22. Observable
- 23. Within your controlScalingWhere are you now on this scale?,How did you manage to go from 0 to where you are now?What did you do that worked well?What would be “good enough”?What ideas do you have about how you can take one small step forward?Â
- 24. A rapid SF ConversationWhat happened? Who did what? When does/did it happen? Are we certain that is happening? How do we know? Take brief notes.
- 25. What small/first step will show us that the situation is moving in the right direction? What can be done? Who can do it?
- 26. What is the next step you will take in this situation? (Give space and have people come up with their own ideas first rather than offer advice.)
- 27. When do we review this? What do we do to review this?TakeawayWhat have you got from this session that you will take back into the workplace?What else?