Kindle Notes & Highlights
Solution-focused interviewing looks to the past not to explore or analyze earlier problems or failures but rather to bring to light the client’s previous successes.
Do this exercise in pairs. The other person says: “I’m too embarrassed to talk about my problem, but I need help now, because things can’t go on like this any longer!” You respond, “Suppose there was a solution,” to which you then add, “What difference would that make for you?” or “How would you know?” or “How would that help you?” This exercise shows that it is not necessary to know what the problem is to help a person examine his or her goal and possible means of achieving it.
“Has there been a moment recently when the problem was absent or was less of a problem?” • “When has there been a moment recently when the problem was absent or was less of a problem?”
“What would your life look like if you did know?”
“Suppose there is a solution,” followed by “What difference would it make in your life?” or “What would your life look like then?”
They yield little benefit because they focus on the past; on the question of who is to blame; and on hypotheses, analyses, and questions related to the problem. The atmosphere is often negative and the participants’ willingness to act is limited.
Problem-focused meetings can be turned into solution-focused meetings (see Table 8.1 for the differences).
