SF Coaching

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Comment by John Bonnett on May 11, 2009 at 4:49pm

Thanks for bringing your several meaningful insights to my attention. I shall study them in greater detail and apply them to some of my cases. I am certain many will increase my efficiency and effectiveness as I work with a variety of client issues (problems?). Thanks again.

Comment by Hans-Peter Korn on May 11, 2009 at 8:54am

To focus on "problems" as issues to be solved or on things which should fit or work better is a very useful view which not in contradiction to SF.

For me "focusing on solutions - and not seeing the problem" is one of the misunderstandings of SF: SF does NOT mean to ignore or neglect the problem. SF of course brings (and has to bring) the problem on the table very clear - but in way, which makes it possible for the client to articulate the problem himself and not to be told what his problem is (unless the client does not want / seems to be not able to see something harmful for him or for the society). And SF for me brings the problem on the table in a way which shows different views on that problem as a platform to "liquefy" the problem using SF as a "solvent".
In my personal opinion phrases like "problems are problems because we call them problems" are (maybe) useful as provoking starting points for deeper reflections in trainings - but they are not useful as a condensed description of "SF in a nutshell". Such phrases IMHO are misleading trivialisations of SF.
So, for me it is a misuse of SF to skip e.g. as a social worker with a family all harmful events. In such a situation for me SF means, that the social worker clearly addresses such harms and maltreatments of the parrents against their child as unacceptable. And after that NOT to find causes for such events but to find positive exceptions in the past when living together was posible without harming and maltreatment.

So, what is described recently in http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8029000/8029257.stm is not a disprove of SF but a misuse of SF in way, that addressing harms and maltreatments have been avoided.

In the SOLUTIONS-List this was discussed in the last days in the thread "SOL and Baby P" and "Problem solving for the solution focused". And Ivan Webb from Tasmania provided this "process skeleton" which they used at a large Tasmanian primary school to solve problems by adopting the solution focused approach - and they enjoyed the rewards:

1. Value the problem as an opportunity to learn and to improve the school(achieve greater success and well-being for all)
2. Contain the problem as quickly as possible - minimising its disruption and demonstrating our commitment to success and well-being for all
3. Resolve the problem - that is, take steps to restore the parties' success and well-being
4. Understand how the problem arose - gain insights into what's working, what's not and what else might be possible
5. Reduce the likelihood of similar problems recurring (develop counter measures but only if necessary!!)
6. Make changes (to the school systems) that will reduce the likelihood of the problem recurring
7. Improve the school systems beyond the problem

I like especially this 4th step:
> 4. Understand how the problem arose - gain insights into what's working,
> what's not and what else might be possible

It is in a nice way paradox: "To understand how the problem arose" usually is understood to dig out the roots of the problem and the roots of the roots... And in this step instead of it a very different strategy is offered: "gain insights into what's working, what's not and what else might be possible".

Comment by John Bonnett on May 11, 2009 at 12:01am

My early training (years ago at the Harvard Business School) caused me to focus on problems and isues to be solved. The better we became at soving problems the higher our pay, or so we thought. My solution to problems associated with grain hedging as a member of the Chicago Board of Trade seemed like a breakthrough in the 70s, but in retrospect, and in view of what I've observed at this site thus far, my success might have come quicker and easier by observing a solution approach. I look forward to learning from the great depth and diversity represented in this group. I look forward to interacting with many of you and I will welcome your ideas and suggestions since I have much to learn in this areas which is new to me.

Comment by Kevin Clouthier on April 23, 2009 at 1:24pm

Hello everyone,

I have taken a few minutes to explore the members of this group & it is striking to see the bredth of scopes of practice and experiences of members. By trainng, I am a Marriage & Family Therapist and have practiced SF therapy with individuals, couples and families since the mid-1980s. I am curious about the distinction between therapy and coaching. In particular, when the focus of the work is, like Christina Toma, the development of Welless, Work/Life Balance and Personal Development. I welcome comments that can assist me to better understand this disinction. I look forward to other discussions regarding coaching practices.

Comment by Cristina Toma on March 7, 2009 at 1:59pm

Hello. I'm passionate about SF Coaching methode, Wellness Coaching, Work/ Life Balance and Personal Development. I enjoy very much helping people to reach their full potential. I work in Romania.

Comment by Cristina Toma on March 7, 2009 at 1:57pm

I'm so glad to see all these coaching specialists gathered here. Nice to be around you!

Comment by Pat Walker on February 5, 2009 at 5:55pm

JOINGIN sounds good to me!

Comment by Phil Aspden on February 5, 2009 at 3:29pm

Just noticed my typo - but what a wonderful name for a social networking site that would be JOINGIN.

Comment by Phil Aspden on February 5, 2009 at 3:27pm

Hello SF coaches - I look forward to joingin in with some of the discussions here. I work in Manchester UK - organisational change and development including coaching and have just completed the SF professional course with Mark and Jenny.

Comment by JuliaFry on October 16, 2008 at 1:03pm

Good day to you all. I'm thrilled to be a part of this exciting phenomenon.
Best wishes to everyone,
Julia Fry

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