How to Become a Solution Detective: 6 Solutions-Focused Tools for Change

HOW TO BECOME A SOLUTION DETECTIVE

6 Solutions-Focused Tools for Change

Rod Sherwin

Twitter: @RodSherwinLinkedIn: Rod Sherwin

Are you an expert on the problem or

the solution?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

About Me20+ Years in IT 7+ Years Private Practice

• Bachelor of Engineering & Science in Computer Science

• Software Engineer

• Business Analyst

• Team Leader & Coach

• Solutions-Focused Organisational Change

• Helping people with stress, anxiety, panic, phobias, depression, PTSD, abuse, relationships, chronic pain

• Energy medicine, energy psychology, Kinesiology

• Solutions-focused Brief Therapy

• Coach

Rod Sherwin, 2015

The Right Tool for the Right Job

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Two types of problemsComplicated Complex

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Problem Focus or Solutions Focus?

Problem Focus Solutions Focus• What’s wrong?

• What needs fixing?

• Blame and control

• Causes in the past

• The expert knows best

• Deficits and weaknesses

• Complication

• Definitions

• What’s wanted

• What‘s working

• Progress

• Influence

• Collaboration

• Resources and strengths

• Simplicity

• Actions

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Benefits of SF Approach• Help you envision the desired future and

move towards it• An approach for problems that don’t have

simple cause/effect relationships e.g. “people” problems

• Works for individuals, teams and organisations• Positive Pragmatic approach based on

practice not theory

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Solution Conversation

Try it - Problem Talk• What’s wrong?

• Why are you doing so badly?

• What’s blocking you?

• Whose fault is it?

• What are the other things that make it hard?

• Why will it be difficult for you to do any better?

Try it - Solution Talk• What would you like to happen?

• How will you know you’ve achieved it?

• What was the best you ever did (at this thing)?

• What went well on that occasion?

• What will be the first signs that you’re getting better?

• How will other people notice this improvement?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Principles of Solutions FocusChange is happening all the time. Want to identify and amplify useful change.

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Principles of Solutions Focus

Detailed understanding of the “problem” is usually little help at arriving at the solution

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Principles of Solutions FocusNo problem is always all the time. Direct route is to identify where there is evidence/clues of what we want more of and do more of that.

? ?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Principles of Solutions Focus

Small changes in the right direction can be amplified to great effect.

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Principles of SF Change

1. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

2. Find what works and do more of it.

3. (Optional) Stop doing what doesn’t work and do something different.

Six Solutions ToolsFuture Perfect

Scale

Platform: What’s wanted?

Counters: Find what’s working, useful or helpful

Affirms: Identify useful qualities and skills

Small Actions:Do more of what works, orTry something different

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Rod Sherwin, 2015

1. Establish a Platform for Change

• Empathy first – “That sounds tough…”

• What’s wanted – instead of the problem

• Direction not a goal

• Establish the benefits

• Is there a willingness to take action?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

2. Future Perfect

The Problem

Rod Sherwin, 2015

2. Future Perfect

Future Perfect

Problemuss vanishess

Rod Sherwin, 2015

2. Future Perfect• Supposed the problem went away overnight:

How would you know?

• What would you notice was different?

• Describe concrete observable behaviours

• From different points of view: Boss, colleagues, friends, computer?

• What else? What else? What else?

• More detail the better

Problemuss vanishess

Rod Sherwin, 2015

3. What Counts towards the solution?

• When does the Future Perfect happen, even a little bit?

• How did you make that happen?

• Where in your life have you overcome similar problems?

• How are you coping?

• Who believes you could do this?

• What other resources do you have that can help?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

3. What Counts towards the solution?

• Resources• Skills• Know-how• Expertise• Strengths• Attitudes• Ideas• What else?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

4. Scale

0

10

5

Future Perfect

Worst or Opposite of FP

?

• On a scale from 0 – 10, where are you now?

• What’s already happening that makes you this high?

• What are you doing right at least some of the time?

• Have there been times when we were higher on the scale? What was happening then?

• What else? What else? What else?

• Why aren’t we at a 10?• How do we get from here to a 10?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

5. Small Actions

• What would be different at +1 on your scale?

• What would others notice at +1?

• What small actions could you take in the next few days to move you towards this?

• What would be a first step towards that?

Benefits: No resistance, low risk, early feedback

+1?

Future Perfect

0

10

5

Rod Sherwin, 2015

6. Affirming and Compliments

• What are you most impressed with?

• What skills and resources have you observed during the conversation?

• What are grounds for optimism?

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Six Solutions Tools

Future Perfect

Scale

Platform: What’s wanted?

Counters: Find what’s working, useful or helpful

Affirms: Identify useful qualities and skills

Small Actions:Do more of what works, orTry something different

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Become a Solutions Detective1. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

2. Find what works and do more of it.

3. (Optional) Stop doing what doesn’t work and do something different.

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Image AttributionsPeople Hands Holding Red Straight Word Principles © Nelosa | Dreamstime.com - People Hands Holding Red Straight Word Principles Photo

Chess_board_with_chess_set_in_opening_position_2012_PD_05.jpg By Bin im Garten (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Go_Board%2C_Hoge_Rielen%2C_BelgiumEdit_Fcb981.jpg By The original uploader was Fcb981 at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Flat_Tyre.jpg By Pujanak (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Moofushi_Kandu_fish.jpg By Bruno de Giusti (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 it or CC BY-SA 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Family <3 By Catherine Scott (Uploaded by Yjenith) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Gandalf-TJ-drawing.jpg By T-Jacques (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

© Pdtnc | Dreamstime.com - Colourfull Counters Photo

© Junpinzon | Dreamstime.com - Hand Making A Thumbs Up Sign Photo

© Adamr | Dreamstime.com - Four Seasons Photo

© Kgtoh | Dreamstime.com - Analysis Paralysis Background Concept Glowing Photo

Fairway wood positioned near golf ball

© Gpointstudio | Dreamstime.com - Talking About Solution Photo

© Wavebreakmediamicro | Dreamstime.com - Business People Talking Over Coffee Photo

By Gemma Longman (Bangkok traffic) CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rod Sherwin, 2015

Resources

Rod Sherwin, 2015