Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare

Chapter 5: Approaches 127

Solution-Focused Approach

The solution-focused approach to coaching intends to facilitate
purposeful, positive change by emphasizing resources and personal
resilience (Grant, 2011). This approach is

 based on solution building vs. problem solving;

 non-confrontational and non-judgmental;

 focused on the learner’s desired future rather than on past
problems or current conflicts;

 led by the learner — the learner identifies and increases the
frequency of current useful behaviors;

 focused on looking for exceptions to the problems identified
(when the problem could have happened but did not); and

 built on the belief that small increments of change lead to large
increments of change.

Grant (2011) suggests the solution-focused approach can be
translated to the coaching field using the following three themes:

Goal-orientation is an orientation toward constructing solutions
through the articulating and use of approach goals and active self-
regulation.

Resource activation focuses on acknowledging, identifying, and
activating a wide range of personal and contextual resources and
personal strengths.