Andrew Gibson Synopsis The “Best Year Ever” process is a structured Solution Focus (SF) workshop methodology designed to help teams and organisations develop actionable improvement plans, thereby fostering sustainability. This method utilises the SF Numberless Scaling technique, which encourages participants to envision celebrating their most successful year as if it had already happened, then looking to see how much of this is happening now or has happened recently, and then to work out their next small steps in the form of an Action Plan.
Victoria Spashchenko & Julia Kalenberg ↗
Introduction by Yi Feng Khoo When was the last time you went glimmer-hunting?
Victoria Spashchenko (Ukraine) and Julia Kalenberg (Switerland) invite us into a heart-opening session where micro-moments of safety, joy and connection gently reshape our nervous systems. Positive sensory experiences serve as the functional opposite of triggers.
Louis Cauffman & Kirsten Dierolf
Abstract The Solution Tango is about “management as the art of getting things done through people” (p. 13). It promises insights and tools aimed at the achievement of organisational goals through managers who act as both leader (direction- giver) and coach (enablers of performance). It positions itself as a guide for practitioners – “theoretical considerations are reduced to a minimum” – but nevertheless offers material for the theoretically curious. This book lends itself to regular use by anyone focused on improving management practice. Its structure, voice and style invite scan-reading followed by dipping in, rather than reading as an unfolding narrative. For busy managers, consultants and coaches its index is a real plus – six pages of finely detailed information, making it very user-friendly for the rushed. And the content?
Lien Tettelin Synopsis Lien Tettelin’s open space session on “Good practices in the public sector” focused on strategies for enhancing organisational sustainability. The session explored how public sector entities can integrate sustainability into their decision-making processes, develop relevant strategies and KPIs, and redefine notions of profit to encompass social benefits.
Critical strategies discussed included starting conversations around the environmental impacts of decisions, such as carbon footprints, and developing targeted strategies for sectors with the most significant potential impact.
A Global Chapter Meeting with Jenny Clarke
Introduced by Stanus Cloete In this SFiO Global Chapter Meeting, Jenny Clarke talks about From Best Hopes to Platform. As the title suggests, she addresses the jargon that we, as SF practitioners use. Different practitioners may use different questions to formulate the Platform. The thought-provoking question is, “What do we want to accomplish with the questions we ask?”
Miklos-Gyorgy John Brooker
SFiO - Solution Focus in Organisations · The Principles of an Undercover SF Warrior Click above to Listen on SoundCloud Introduction by John Brooker This session is titled “Principles of an Undercover Solution Focused Warrior”. Drawing on the Seven Virtues of Bushido, the traditional code of the samurai, Miklós György explores what it means to use Solution Focus in problem-focused environments. But what drew me in were the stories he tells. Stories of using a Solution Focus approach while living rough on the streets and in tough schools, environments that are naturally problem focused.
Olayinka Madamidola ↗
Introduction by Annie Bordeleau Olayinka Madamidola is a Solution Focused practitioner, facilitator and founder of Family Matters Plus, where she supports workplaces in navigating crisis, conflict, and transitions through practical, strengths-based approaches.
In this 30 minute conversation, Olayinka Madamidola invites us into the heart of the Solution Focused stance. She beautifully demonstrates what it means to slow down and notice: create enough space for the unexpected to emerge and discover what is easily overlooked. Her reflections are a reminder that as SF practitioners, awareness is something we continually cultivate.
Andrew Gibson Synopsis Andrew Gibson’s open space session delved into innovative methods for integrating solution-focused approaches discreetly within various organisational contexts. Participants shared various strategies tailored to subtly foster positive change without overtly disrupting existing structures or workflows.
For example, Roy introduced the concept of “Guerrilla solution-focused practice,” which involves being solution-focused in meetings even if one is the only proponent of such methodologies. This approach includes thinking aloud in a solution-focused manner and maintaining a structured review process in meetings to ensure constructive outcomes.
Julianna Toth
Introduction by Jacqui Horan In this thought-provoking and inspiring presentation, Julianna Tóth and her colleagues at the Bátor Tábor Foundation Hungary, describe part of a School Outreach Programme. It is designed to enable children to sensitively and successfully reintegrate into school after experiencing significant illness.
Ania Smolka Synopsis The open space session facilitated by Ania Smolka on designing ‘sustainable leadership’ programmes was an intensive exploration of ideas on integrating sustainability into leadership practices across various organisational layers. Ania asked three teams to consider the challenge and we show their outputs below. As well, one of the teams highlighted the concept of Regenerative Leadership (subtly different from Sustainable Leadership). Below, you can download a PDF article on the relationship between this concept and Solution Focus.