This document outlines a solution focused approach to complex cases presented by Nick Burnett. It discusses using questions focused on solutions rather than problems, and moving the discussion towards progress rather than explanations. It provides examples of solution focused tools like the future perfect, where the problem is imagined to be solved, miracle questions, scaling questions, and affirming clients' strengths. Partners practice these techniques on sample issues. The document emphasizes small, specific actions and positive consequences of potential solutions.

1. A Solution Focused Approach
to Complex Cases
Nick Burnett

2. On a scale from 1-10, with 10 at
tops…Rate your current satisfaction
of how complex cases are dealt with…

3. Future Perfect
• Suppose…that we have a cocktail party in December.
• What would you like to be saying to each other about the
successful completion of a complex case. Think about what you
want to be saying.
• Start thinking, and jot down some initial answers…
• Then, get ready to excitedly tell your colleagues about what‟s
happened…

4. Why a Solution Focused
Approach?
“Find out what works and do more of it.”

5. Problem or Solution
• Review of a recent difficulty
• With a partner first ask the „problem-focused‟
questions, then the „solution-focused‟ questions

6. Problem or Solution
Reflect on a significant problem or challenge you have
presently
a) Problem Focus:
• Tell me about one of your biggest challenges at the moment?
• Why is this such a problem?
• What are the worst emotions you have around this?
• What are the biggest barriers to progress here?
b) Solution Focus:
• Tell me what you‟d like to achieve in relation to this?
• If this was working well what would be happening?
• How would that make you feel?
• Is there one thing here that if it were possible, would change
everything?
• If you could just take one single action to move this forward what
would it be?

7. Solution Focused
Approach
“People live in the worlds our questions create”
~David Cooperrider
Solutions Focused
• Not problem focused
• What‟s wanted, not what‟s wrong
Progress focused
• Not explanation focused
• How do we move things in the right direction, NOT why
they are how they are now

8. What is Solution Focused?

9. The Solution
Focused Approach
in action!
Think of something you would like to improve…personal
or professional….And that you are willing to share!

10. “Things should be as simple as
possible, but no simpler”
~Albert Einstein

11. The Simple Model
olutions, not problems
nbetween – the action is in the interaction
ake use of what‟s there
ossibilities – past, present and future
anguage – simply said
very case is different
The Solutions Focus Book By Paul Z. Jackson and Mark McKergow

12. The Solutions
Tools
The Solutions Focus Book By Paul Z. Jackson and Mark McKergow

13. Platform
• Who is a customer and for what?
• Who wants something to be different?
• Who is prepared to do something?
• What would be the benefit in moving forward?
• What is a good name for the project?

14. Future Perfect
• Life in detail…with the problem vanished
• Miracle question
• What will be the first signs that let you know this
transformation has happened?
• What else? What else?
• Who else will notice?
• What will be the first signs they notice? What else?

15. Scale
Building on what works
• On a scale from 1-10
where 10 is the Future
Perfect, where are you
know?
• What‟s helping you reach
that level? What else?
• What would one step
higher up the scale look
like?
• What would be the first
tiny signs of progress?
• What would take you one
small step higher?

16. Counters
• Finding what‟s working
• When does the Future Perfect already happen?
• When do bits of the Future Perfect already happen?
• On a scale of 1-10, how come you are as high as you are and not
lower?
• What is going well?
• What is the best you ever
did at this thing?
• What‟s better since last time?
• How did you do that?

17. Affirm
• Noticing useful qualities, skills and resources
• What‟s most impressive about what has
already happened?
• What impresses you about the other people
involved?
• What skills, resources and qualities
can be observed?
• What are the grounds for optimism?

18. Small Actions
• Finding small actions
• Do more of what works
• Small steps
• Can be taken quickly
• Starting, not stopping
• Specific and concrete
• For the customer for change
doing what doesn’t
• If nothing is working…stop
work and do something different

19. Solution Focused Approaches
to Complex Cases
Time to have a go at a few different
Solution Focused Approaches…

20. • What‟s working?
• When even more is working
• Affirming
• First signs
Mark McKergow and Jenny Clarke
Solutions Focused Approach to Complex Cases

21. What’s working?
Partner – ask them…
• What is the thing you want to be better at in
relation to complex cases?
• Think of a time when you managed to do that, even
if a little…
– What did you do that helped?
– What else? What else?

22. When even more is working
Now, ask your partner to suppose that the next time
they need to be better at the element they identified in
relation to complex cases it goes perfectly…
What would be happening?
What would they be doing?
Who would be the first person to notice?
What would they notice?
What else? What else?
Who else would notice? What would they notice?
What else?

23. Affirming
Think for a moment then
tell your partner
1. Two things that impress
you about them
2. “Based on what you just
said, it seems to me that
maybe you are a ……
person”

24. First signs
Partner then ask…
1. What would be the first signs that
things were going better …?
2. What else?
3. Based on what you have
said, what would be the first
small step towards things going
better…?
4. What else?
5. When can you try this?
Now swap roles – use the
prompts in your handout

25. Mini-coaching with
maxi-effect!
• In pairs you are going to coach each other towards a
solution…
• Suggested structure
• Establish the platform
• Where are you on a scale of 1-10?
• What is in place that makes it n and not n-1?
• What else? What else?
• Suppose you moved to one step further on the scale.
What would be a sign? Who would notice?
• What else? What else?

26. Small actions
Individually, pick one or two small
steps with which you make the
maximum impact

27. Good consequences?
Share your small steps
Speculate about what the beneficial
consequences might arise from these
small steps.

28. Closing Thoughts
Something I have enjoyed about this
workshop is…
Something I am looking forward to
working on right now is…

29. Keep in touch…
• Email: nickburnett@me.com
• Web: www.nickburnettccp.com
• Linkedin: Nick Burnett
• Twitter: nick_burnett
• Facebook: Nick Burnett CCP