Solution Focused Management For Positive Change

By Toni Cascio, Ph.D.

Your company's sales are down. Morale is at an all time low. You've hired some very capable people, and they're not performing. Do any of these situations sound familiar? All companies have difficult issues like these to contend with from time to time, but with so many companies facing downsizing and budget cuts, a lot of problems that were previously hidden are coming to the surface now.

So the question becomes what's the best way to deal with such concerns? Most people will approach them the traditional way: by identifying the problem, looking at what went wrong, and trying to fix it. After all, that's the best way to deal with problems, right?

Not necessarily.

A new trend is emerging that helps organizations tackle tough issues and foster growth. It's called Solution Focused Management (SFM), and its benefits are being demonstrated in companies across Europe, in Australia, and in Canada. SFM is a radically different approach that resolves difficulties and enhances motivation by identifying and building upon successes already happening in the organization.

The big question is: Does it work? And the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" Studies have shown that using SFM produces some powerful results, such as:

· Increased sales
· Increased customer satisfaction
· Greater job satisfaction
· Improved job attendance

What is SFM?

More than anything, SFM is a mindset. It's a way of looking at people and organizations from a strengths-based perspective. First of all, it assumes competence—that people have the ability to solve issues and on some level know what they need to do to succeed. They are capable of change.

It also believes that all people have resources. They have skills, talents and abilities to enhance themselves and their organizations. They have resources that are untapped or that they may have not figured out how to use productively in their jobs. People are very resourceful when you allow them to be, and SFM helps you do just that.

In a word, SFM is about confidence. It's confidence that your people and your organization have the ability to find solutions to difficulties and to excel.

It's treating people as the competent, capable individuals that they can become.

So how does it work?

There are some fundamental differences that make SFM very effective. First, SFM acknowledges the idea that the kinds of questions you ask frame the kinds of answers you're going to get. If you spend your time looking at the negatives, like the organization's problems and weaknesses, what went wrong, and who's to blame, you're going to generate complaints and feeling of helplessness. You also create defensiveness, animosity and stagnation, which are counterproductive to getting people to perform at optimal levels.

However, if you concentrate on what you're already doing well and the resources that you do have, you create a whole different atmosphere. People realize the organization's capabilities as well as their own strengths, and a new type of thinking emerges. Cooperation and strategizing are fostered, which allows you to engage in the SFM process.

This process consists of a series of discussions that help you to:

• Create a detailed vision of positive change
• Decide where to focus attention and resources to get there
• Determine small steps on the path to excellence

By taking such an affirmative approach to your organizational issues, you open up the door to new possibilities, and that's what good management is all about: bringing about growth and positive change.

Editors Note: Toni Cascio, Ph.D., is vice president at Bon Mot Communications, where she leads the company's training workshops and provides one-on-one leadership coaching. To learn more about our Solution Focused Management workshops, please click here.

Copyright © Bon Mot Communications LLC 2008

Permission to Reprint

Want to use an article from The Corporate Communicator in your e-zine, website or other publication? You can, as long as you include the following:

"Reprinted from The Corporate Communicator, a FREE e-zine dedicated to helping professional communicators and business owners communicate more effectively with employees, customers and the media. For access to the best communications tools, tips, research and best practices, subscribe now at www.thecorporatecommunicator.net."