The Solutions Focus: Making Coaching and Change SIMPLE - Softcover

Paul Z Jackson; Mark McKergow

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1904838065 ISBN 13: 9781904838067

Publisher: Nicholas Brealey International, 2006

Synopsis

This is a new and updated edition of this acclaimed first business book on the powerful, simple yet subtle approach to positive change in people, teams and organisations. Used around the world by a wide range of people, professions and organisations, the first edition has now sold nearly 10,000 copies and been translated into 7 languages.

Including new chapters reflecting the increasing importance of coaching and the solutions focus movement in the business environment, this wide-ranging book is filled with all the most important ideas, case examples and practical tips for managers, facilitators and consultants. Proven in many fields and with a distinguished intellectual heritage, "The Solutions Focus" provides a simple and direct route to progress in your organisation. It focuses on: solutions - not problems; in between: the action is in the interaction; make use of what's there; possibilities - past, present and future; and language. Every case is different. The trouble with traditional approaches to people problems is that they assume a straightforward relationship between cause and effect, between a problem and its solution. A solutions-focused approach sidesteps the search for the causes of a problem and heads straight for the solution, showing you how to envisage your preferred future and quickly takes steps forward.

The authors present a set of practical techniques, including specific forms of questioning that lead to immediate action and results. They show how to identify what is working in your organisation and amplify it to make useful changes; to focus on what is possible rather than what is intractable and how to be solution focused, not solution forced.

About this title

Review

All good coaches focus on potential, affirmation and solutions.This book is a must. It is simple, easy to read and filled with illustrative examples. (Sir John Whitmore, author of Coaching for Performance)

A focus on solution construction is the core of great coaching.This is a beautifully crafted, elegantly simple approach to applying the power of solutions to organizations―a must-read for coaches and consultants looking for truly effective tools. (Anthony M. Grant, Director, Coaching Psychology Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia)

A classic: the most exciting and applicable approach since Fisher and Ury’s Getting to Yes.The logic and ethics of the approach are refreshing and unfortunately all too rare in the corporate world where I do most of my work. It makes so much sense to identify and work with what works. (Nancy Caldwell, negotiation consultant, USA)

I look for a book to in some way help improve my personal performance. The great thing with The Solutions Focus is that every time I picked it up it caused me to momentarily stop and think about how I operate and in particular how I could take a more solution-focused approach in my work. Great value from a small book. (Mick Cope, author The Seven Cs of Consulting)

I have used the solutions process with a team who were suffering from low morale and feeling that they had little power to solve their problems. I spent 3 hours using your process and it worked like magic. By the end of the process they felt in control, energetic and enthusiastic about tackling their issues. (Lynda Cant, HR Director, Antalis)

The clearest and most well written of the numerous solutions-focused books I’ve read. (John M. Littrell, Ed.D., Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Iowa State University, author of Brief Counselling in Action)

Refreshing to see a new way to approaching problem solving which doesn’t necessarily rely on understanding what the problem is. (Des Mannion, Grant Thornton)

The book gives a rationale and confidence for letting go of ‘problem analysis.’ Now I can see how to do things even better. (Peter Ackroyd, Greenstreet Berman)

I have purchased 20 copies of your book and have made it ‘required’ reading for my Quality and Customer Focused Team. It is amazing how viewing the issue from a ‘positive’ solutions focus makes a difference. (Bruce Woodings, Halliburton,Texas)

I can think of no better introduction to how solution-focused principles may be applied in organizations. Jackson and McKergow have written a very readable book that draws upon their own practical experiences in turning complex problems into simple solutions that work.This is the sort of book that managers and administrators will keep close at hand, regularly consulting it in dealing with the many challenges that face them. I recommend The Solutions Focus to anyone who is interested in fostering positive organizational change. (Gale Miller, professor and chairperson, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, Marquette University and consulting partner, Solutions Behavioral Health Group)

Book Description

The new and updated edition of this acclaimed first business book on the powerful, simple yet subtle approach to positive change in people, teams and organisations. A solutions-focused approach sidesteps the search for the causes of a problem, showing how to envisage your preferred future and quickly take steps forward.

About this edition

• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey International
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1904838065
• ISBN 13: 9781904838067
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 288