We’ve recently been asked some thoughtful questions about ‘challenge’, ‘acceptance’ and ‘true desires’. How do these concepts fit within a Solutions Focus (SF) coaching approach?
A correspondent, working in an accounting firm steeped in root cause analysis, wanted to understand whether and how SF coaches challenge clients and how we navigate situations where a client’s desires seem to be in tension with their values. These are great questions, and they highlight key distinctions between SF coaching and more problem-focused approaches.
The Question of Challenge
How do we know if a client’s solution is ‘truly on target’? Perhaps we don’t. And perhaps we don’t need to. SF coaching isn’t about identifying a singular ‘true’ desire or rigorously testing a client’s solutions against some fixed standard. Instead, it’s about movement. If a step moves someone in a useful direction – however imperfectly – then it’s valuable.
Moving along a scale from a 4 to a 5 may not appear a grand leap, but it’s movement that generates momentum.
Do SF coaches ‘challenge’ clients? Not in the traditional sense of arguing, disparaging or debating. What we do instead is invite more detail. “Tell me more about what that would look like” is a classic SF move – not to interrogate, but to expand the space of possibilities. ‘Tell me more’ is a frequent SF practitioner’s request, usually when the client is on a roll describing what they want, what good looks like or what resources and useful experiences they have.
The Role of Acceptance
Coaching often reveals that what clients first say they want isn’t always the most important thing. Take the example of a client saying they want a tidier house. Imagining a pristine home might feel more discouraging than inspiring, if deeper values – such as family time or outdoor activities – consistently take precedence.
The client may spend time convincing themselves, or otherwise. The coach is a sounding board, not someone the client has to convince.
Does SF assume that a client’s ‘problem’ aligns neatly with their highest values? Not at all. People often want a lot of things, which may be ‘in conflict’ with each other. Coaching is often about clarifying what’s wanted, what’s most wanted, what’s wanted first, etc.
SF practitioners do assume that the client (and not the coach) is more expert in the client’s life, so we – as Wittgenstein proposed – are offering them a conversation in which they might re-arrange what they already know.
If you’re curious how this might work in your world – as a coach, people leader and consultant, get in touch here. We’d love to share how this approach can unlock progress and movement.