Solution-Focused Management

Preface

Contents

Introduction

Solution-Focused Management: Towards a Theory of Positive Differences

Summary

A concept spreads in the world of consulting and management

Towards a Theory of Positive Differences

The Principle of “Finding Differences” – what is different when it works?

The Interactional View

Social Construction of Meaning

Solution-Focused Management

REFERENCES

Principles of Solution-Focused Work in Management and Organisations

Steve de Shazer – a Different Kind of Cleverness

Constructing the Roots of Solution-Focused Practices

Summary

Becoming a both/and practitioner

Complex response processes

Conclusions

REFERENCES

“SF-Topology”: mapping manageable solution components & contexts–

Summary:

Maps of maps and territories–

What’s “a solution”? The linear parts –

Model Questions (for the linear part)

Multiple causes and effects

Solutions - the reciprocal part –

Towards the core topology: combining the parts –

CORFU-questions

Some examples of applications:

Possible extensions of the model:

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Solution-Focused Transverbality: How to keep the Essence of the Solution-Focused Approach by extending it

Summary:

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III ]

IV ]

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VI ]

VII ]

VIII ]

IX ]

X ]

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XII ]

XIII ]

REFERENCES:

Creating Attraction – Is there a hidden secret in the miracle question?

Summary

1. Establishing attraction: Creating a preferred future by distinguishing outcome, effects and benefits.

2. Experiencing attraction: discovering our own influence and impact

3. The fuel of attraction: creating and maintaining positive” states of minds”

4. Creating and maintaining a big attractive picture: bringing( a new) “sense” into our lives

REFERENCES

Solution-Focused Situation Management: Finding Cooperation Quickly

Summary

Introduction

Method

Ask for a behavioural description:

Discussion

Practical exercise

REFERENCES

If it doesn’t work, be someone else!

Summary

The background

The Be-Do-Have Model

The practical part

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Learning how to act simply in complex situations

Summary

Introduction

Simplicity

How is simplicity useful – to managers?

Simplicity and Solutions Focus

Simplicity in action

How to be simple

Conveying simplicity

A functionalist perspective

Staying focused on what’s wanted

A linguistic perspective

Our workshop

REFERENCES

Creating Comfort Places in Discomfort Situations

Introduction

REFERENCES:

Research on Effects of Solution-Focused Work in Organisations

Effects of SF training on productivity and leadership behaviour

Introduction

Evaluation and solution-focused training approach

Training goals

Structure and timetable of the leadership training and evaluation instruments

Results of the evaluation study

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Solution-Focused leadership: The range between theory and practical application

Summary

The claim to work in a solution-focused manner

Description of solution-focused leadership (in literature).

The initial Pilot Study

How managers describe solution focus

Where solution orientation shows up

Results of the observations

Conclusions

REFERENCES

Appendix 1:

Observation manual

Appendix 2: Overview of the observation results

Solution-Focused Leadership

Solution-Focused Leadership through Appreciation

Introduction

The SF-Approach

To give and to receive appreciation

Different forms of appreciation

Appreciation in human evolution

REFERENCES

"Dancing with your boss” – A Solution-Focused Management Development Program

Summary

The title

To get the job

Reflection on my presentation

The expectations from the Management Team

Preparation on the training

The program

The program for the first module: “Learning how to learn”

The program for the second module: Solution-Focused approach of

management and coaching

The pilot

Evaluation scores including all the groups

Conclusions

REFERENCES

Advanced training for basic leadership skills

Introduction

More leadership and less management

Stimulation by acknowledgement

Stimulation by asking good questions

Types of questions

Examples

Stipulating by feedback and sharing responsibility

Solution-Focused leadership training

Conclusion: Advanced training methods for basic leadership skills

REFERENCES

Marketing and Sales

Meanings affect the heart – SF questions and heart coherence

Summary

Introduction

“Emotion”

Heart Rate Variability

HRV and emotion

The Heart/Brain System

Arousal vs relaxation

The HeartMath method

Heart Coherence and Solutions Talk

Conclusions

REFERENCES

The Use of Solutions Focus in Branded Customer Experience Implementation

Introduction

Devolving decision making to the front line

Solutions Focus and amplifying change processes

Solution Focus and the Roundtable

Solution Focus and Implementing Change

Solutions Focus and business goals

Solutions Focus and building on existing capabilities

Solutions Focus and follow-through

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Staging of Strategic Solutions for the Future Business

Summary

A SolutionStage "live experience" for Consultants and Trainer

The Backstage of the "SolutionStage"

Business Case: Using "SolutionStage" for developing a strategy in a big IT company

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Solution-Focused Improvement of the Customer Segmentation Process1

The Approach

The Implementation Struggle

Marketing Sales Management

Official Goals

Hidden Agenda

The Solution

Helpful Meetings

Key SF Learnings

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Using Solutions Focus in an Effective Sales and Influencing Process

Summary

Client Briefing

Workshop Format

Building Rapport

Success in Selling

More “Small Steps”

Interaction with Clients

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Human Resource Management

Solution-Focused Assessment: New Ways of Developing HRInstruments

Summary

Effects of HR instruments

The creation of a "non-changeability trance" through traditional HR instruments

Solution-Focused Assessment

Standardised HR instruments

Assessment criteria – a different use of language

Qualitative instruments

Process-oriented assessments

Summary

REFERENCES

Making performance rating relevant, informative and meaningful

Abstract

Background

Solution-focused rating

Solution-focused rating – the supervisor’s perspective

Fairness, or how to be "objective“

Fear of conflict and/or communication breakdown

Disappointed expectations

Solution-focused rating – the employee’s perspective

Employee self-assessment

A useful frame

Other benefits

Conclusion

REFERENCES

How Solution Focus can improve recruiting processes

Summary

Aim

Method

The problem

Interviews

Workshop

Participants evaluation

Final comment

REFERENCES

Solution Focus in Organisational Development

Organisational Consulting as a Field for the Solution-Focused Approach

Models in the helping professions and the contribution of the Solution-Focused approach

The development of organisational consulting

REFERENCES:

“5 to 1”: Systemic Solution-focused Change Management

Introduction

“5 to 1”: Initial Situation

Excursus “The Logic of Solution-focused Consulting”

Project-specific Application of the Solution-focused Logic

Primary Intervention: Some Basic Thoughts on the Conduction of Individual

Interviews

Example of a Solution-focused Workshop Design

Conclusion

Outlook

REFERENCES

Initiating Organisational Development

Summary

Background

Useful strategies of implementation: The development

Development of useful strategies of implementation: The result

A tool to support organisational change

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Management’s Role in Building SF-Programs

Summary

Context for Solution-Focused Work in Child Welfare

Overview of Sample

Agency A

Agency B

Agency C

Recommendations: Community-at-Large

Recommendations: Funding/Regulating Bodies

Recommendations: Internal Staff

Summary

REFERENCES

Designing Resource-Oriented Learning Architectures

Summary

Introduction

SF Learning Principles

SF Learning Cycles

Pre-course learning

Self-Assessment and Preparation

Contracting / Goal Negotiation

Introduction to Training Units

Use of Scaling in Training Units

SF Case work

Conclusion

REFERENCES

The Formula for Resourceful Evaluation of Training and Coaching

Summary

An attempt to explain “attention” and why it is so important where you focus it

Guiding people’s attention to where it is most beneficial

Evaluation as a valuation of what is already there in the everyday environment

of the learner

Asking helpful questions

Guideline for an ideal evaluation process

Preparation and pre-evaluation

Review during the process:

Post-evaluation:

Conclusion:

REFERENCES

Solution-Focused Error Management

Summary

Introduction

Solution-Focused Approach in Error Management

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Using SF to accelerate a performance and development culture

Summary

Context

Key Initiatives

How we approached these initiatives

Applying SF and the ripple effect in each initiative

Avoid tick list Self-sufficiency Staff satisfaction

Evidence of the interactions spreading – the ripple effect in action

Conclusions

REFERENCES

Appendix A: Speed-coaching activity and briefing

SF-Conflict Management and Conflict Consulting in Organisations

Introduction

A solution-focused approach to conflicts

Solution-focused conflict consulting in companies

Case study

Summary

REFERENCES:

The SySt-Model of the Solution Focus

An example of a Solution Geometric Interview with conflict parties in an organisation

Summary:

The SySt-Model

The SySt-Model of the Solution Focus: Solution-Focused SySt

What are the criteria of the solution focus?

Case Example: A Situation of Stalemate within an Organisation

Conclusions

REFERENCES:

Solution-Focused Peace Building

Introduction

How I learnt to stop worrying and love conflicts

Conflicts in Northern Ireland

Kosovo

Actionable knowledge

Solution-Focused Peace Building in Antwerp – Belgium

Democratic Republic of Congo

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Project Management

The role of SF within complex change projects - ‘Coachulting’

Introduction

Why do IT-related or complex projects fail?

At what levels to coach a crew for the race?

How can change be smooth and efficient?

Unfreezing – Initialise/Concept-Phase

Coaching

Moving / Mobilise & Realise-Phase

Consulting

Refreezing / Stabilise-Phase

on the job Training

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Turning clients into customers for change - the art of platform building

Summary

The Platform Tool

Building the Platform

Platform Building in Practice – A Case Study

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Solution-Focused Work and Systemic Structural Constellations (SySt) for lasting solutions in complex projects

Summary

1. Project management methods have their limits

2. Prodyn: a model for integrative use of solution-focused approach and

Systemic Structural Constellations (SySt) in complex projects

3. What are the special benefits of Systemic Structural Constellations (SySt) in

project organizations?

4. Accompanying the project through the whole process: essential factors for

lasting benefits

5. How we combine Solution-Focused elements with Systemic Structural

Constellations (SySt)

6. Specific conditions for working with SySt in organizations - What helps to

build trust?

Conclusions

REFERENCES

Aligning Large Multi-Cultural Teams Performance With A Solutions Focused Approach

Summary

What is alignment?

Applying the performance process

not

Performance Alignment - development experience

Conclusion

REFERENCES

SF-Lean Management in Offices: How to speed up and improve your Office Work

Summary

Digging for Treasures

The Seven Office Pitfalls

Background Information: Lean Management and Kaizen

Principles of Solution Focus

Core Questions of Solution-Focused Action

Reaping the Benefits of Solution-Focused Lean Management

Motivational Aspects: Self-Responsibility and Leadership

How to Speed up and Improve Office Work

Conclusion

REFERENCES

When Profit-Ability-Teams Outmatch the Business Process Back in Business with Solution Focus

Introduction

Need to start-up instead of further development

How is it done?

Change Management Goals

The Publishing Industry

Using Solution Focus Questions

Creating Profit Ability Teams (PAT)

Entrepreneurial Thinking – Entrepreneurial Behaviour

Conclusions and Appreciation of the Solution Focus Approach to Workflow

Projects

REFERENCES

Collaboration in business networks: How the solution focus approach improves cooperation and results

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Success factors in business

Practical experience

REFERENCES

Solution Focus as a Way to Break Through Complexity

Introduction

The Goal – the Situation

Theoretical Background

The Process

Customer Feedback

Conclusion

REFERENCES

Random Micro Solution-Focused Work - Or why a random coaching machine might be a better coach

Summary

Improvisation Skills for SF Coaches

Introduction

The Improviser’s Advantage

The Skills You Need

How these connect to SF coaching skills

One minute rants

Spontaneously good ideas

Paying Attention

Learning to concentrate

Usefulness of drama

Paradox

A Coaching Programme for Professional Reorientation

Summary

“CreateFuture” – the programme

Definition and development of the programme

Individual coaching

How to build up self-confidence and communication skills within coaching

How to build a personal profile

Team coaching

Supervision

Situation after 9 months

Internal and external quality control

REFERENCES

Working in Partnership to Introduce Solutions Focus Coaching as a Management Tool: A Case Study

Summary

Introduction

Company Background, Environment of Change

What Happened?

What worked well?

Conclusion

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

OSKAR Model

Fraying Rope Rescue

Introducing Solutions Focus as a Management Tool:

Reflecting as a new solution-focused service for clients?

Summary

What we (currently) mean by “reflecting”

Reflecting - a short history

How we do “reflecting” (as reflecting.ch team)

Our fascination with reflecting

Authors