Solutions Focused Practice

The solution-focused approach to coaching intends to facilitate purposeful, positive change by emphasizing resources and personal resilience (Grant, 2011). This approach is

• based on solution building vs. problem solving;
• non-confrontational and non-judgmental;
• focused on the learner’s desired future rather than on past problems or current conflicts;
• led by the learner — the learner identifies and increases the frequency of current useful behaviors;
• focused on looking for exceptions to the problems identified (when the problem could have happened but did not); and
• built on the belief that small increments of change lead to large increments of change.

Grant (2011) suggests the solution-focused approach can be translated to the coaching field using the following three themes:

1. Goal-orientation is an orientation toward constructing solutions through the articulating and use of approach goals and active self-regulation.
2. Resource activation focuses on acknowledging, identifying, and activating a wide range of personal and contextual resources and personal strengths.
3. Problem disengagement is an explicit disengagement from problems, which is vital for full engagement in the pursuit of goals and central to the solution-focused endeavor.

POWERS is a handy mnemonic tool for coaches to remember the steps of the solution-focused approach (Visser & Bodien, 2003). P - Problems are acknowledged but not analyzed. O - Outcomes desired are specified. W - Where are you now on the scale? E - Exceptions to the problem are keys to solutions. R - Relationships are enhanced and made productive. S - Small steps forward lead to larger change.