Solutions Focused Coaching

In Short

Direct attention to what's already working and amplify it
Best for: Solution-focused approach
Solutions Focused Coaching is a structured tool for coaching and facilitation. Direct attention to what's already working and amplify it. It provides a repeatable framework that can be adapted to individual, team, and leadership development contexts.
Type of tool: Solution-focused approach
Expected outcomes:
- Improved ability to direct attention to what's already working and amplify it
- A concrete action or development plan to take forward from the Solutions Focused Coaching process

In Detail

Solutions Focused Coaching is a professional development resource designed to help coaches, leaders, and facilitators direct attention to what's already working and amplify it. It sits within the category of Solution-focused approach, making it particularly useful for practitioners working on capability development, team performance, and individual growth in organisational settings.

In practice, Solutions Focused Coaching is delivered as a 5-step process. The process begins by start with 'What's better?' rather than 'What's the problem?' 2. The session closes by assign a simple behavioural experiment between sessions. The structured approach ensures that participants move through a consistent experience while leaving room for the facilitator to adapt pacing and depth to the group's needs.

Solutions Focused Coaching is most valuable when practitioners need a reliable, repeatable approach that can be adapted to different contexts without losing its core structure. It bridges the gap between conceptual understanding and practical application, making it a durable addition to any coaching or facilitation toolkit.

How to Use

Same framework as Brief Solution Focused Coaching (de Shazer/Berg).

Start with 'What's better?' rather than 'What's the problem?'
Use exception questions to identify when the problem is less severe.
Apply the miracle question.
Use scaling to measure progress and identify the next small step.
Assign a simple behavioural experiment between sessions.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Directly addresses the challenge of direct attention to what's already working and amplify it through a structured, repeatable approach Adaptable to different seniority levels, team sizes, and organisational contexts Generates actionable insight that participants can apply immediately in their work	Effectiveness varies based on the facilitator's skill level and familiarity with the tool Requires adequate time for both the exercise and a meaningful debrief to realise full value May not be appropriate for all cultural contexts without adaptation

Created by Steve de Shazer & Insoo Kim Berg

When to Use

This tool is suited to the following coaching and facilitation contexts:

Context	Relevant
Individual Coaching
Team Coaching
Leadership Development
Facilitation / Workshop	✓
Online / Virtual

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