Solution Focused Language

Solution Focused (SF) language highlights strengths, successes and future potential. It encourages positive self-awareness and a creative approach towards dealing with problems and challenges.

Solution Focused Comments

SF comments are both appreciative and optimistic. They encourage staff to acknowledge positives in the present and possibilities for the future. They keep people focused on progress and further improvement.

Solution Focused Comments

  • ‘This is what we have done, are doing, could do, will do . . .’
  • ‘Might work, let’s try, how about . . .’
  • ‘We’re good at . . . getting better at . . .’
  • ‘What we want is…
  • ‘What we have learned is . . .’
  • ‘Next time we will . . .’

Problem focused (PF) language, which emphasises difficulties, mistakes and blame, can limit progress and leave staff feeling negative and despondent.

Problem Focused Comments

  • ‘This is what we haven’t done, aren’t doing’
  • ‘Can’t do, won’t do’
  • ‘Won’t work’
  • ‘Don’t want’
  • ‘Shouldn’t have, should have . . .’
  • ‘No point’

Solution Focused Questions

SF questions encourage appreciative reflection and inspire positive action. They help staff to clarify goals and develop strategies for achieving them. Questions can also prepare staff to deal confidently with setback and disappointment.

Appreciating success

  • ‘What is going well?’
  • ‘What are we doing better than we did before?’ (regardless of further room for improvement)
  • ‘Where are we experiencing even small amounts of what we would like to achieve on a wider scale?’
  • ‘What was better today than yesterday?’
  • ‘On a scale of 0 – 10, where were we then and where are we now?’

Acknowledging strengths

  • ‘How have we coped with a similar situation in the past?’
  • ‘What am I doing better than I did before?’
  • What skills/ qualities do I bring to this situation?’
  • ‘What did I do that enabled me to cope with that difficult situation?’

Describing an improved future/ goals

  • ‘What are we hoping to achieve?’
  • ‘What would we like to get out of this meeting?’
  • ‘What will this look like?’
  • ‘What will we be doing differently when we achieve this?’
  • ‘What will be happening that isn’t happening now?’
  • ‘How will we know that we are getting nearer to this goal?’
  • ‘What do we need to do to increase the likelihood of success?’

Doing more of what is already working

  • ‘How can we/you do that more often?’
  • ‘How could we make that happen more often?’
  • ‘Where in the school is this working best?’
  • ‘How can we roll this out elsewhere?’

Noticing Exceptions

  • ‘Where in the school is the ‘problem’ not occurring?
  • ‘When/ where does it have least impact?’
  • ‘What is making the difference?’

Minimising Problem Talk

  • ‘How have we coped with a similar difficulty in the past?’
  • ‘How will we handle setback?’
  • ‘How will we talk ourselves through it?’