Assumptions

Tara Gretton Introduced by Anna-Julia Szabo In this interview, we see how the Solution Focus approach has changed the culture of a school. There is a focus on enabling students and staff to have meaningful conversations, concentrating on possibilities and solutions and what is already working.

Abstract In the SFCT review process, work is peer-reviewed to observe and build the use of the SF approach in organisa- tional settings. These “Clues” are offered as part of the SFCT reviewing process. We wish to suggest many of the different ways of noticing that someone is using the SF approach. We do not seek or claim a complete description of what SF is or is not. Instead, we seek a kind of ‘family resemblance’, with traits that might be visible signs of an SF approach. This is a list of ways that we might notice the SF approach in action. Of course, not all of these need to be present for a piece of work to be a good piece of solution focused work.

Abstract In the SFCT review process, work is peer-reviewed to observe and build the use of the SF approach in organisa- tional settings. These “Clues” are offered as part of the SFCT reviewing process. We wish to suggest many of the different ways of noticing that someone is using the SF approach. We do not seek or claim a complete description of what SF is or is not. Instead, we seek a kind of ‘family resemblance’, with traits that might be visible signs of an SF approach. This is a list of ways that we might notice the SF approach in action. Of course, not all of these need to be present for a piece of work to be a good piece of SF work. This latest version 1.2 contains changes proposed before the AGM and agreed between the Full (reviewed) Members. There are changes to the sections about a not-knowing stance, and a considerable reworking to the Background section.

Dr. Adam S. Froerer, Katalin Hankovszky and Annie Bordeleau Introduction Looking closely at the title of this piece, what assumptions are embedded in there? The author seems to assume that there are “pre-suppositions” in your questions and that you are not always aware of them, that they are not visible. What else? (A very SF question, assuming there is more). “Don’t make assumptions” is a well-known sentence these days and if you stop to look at it, it is full of assumptions! It assumes that you make assumptions in the first place and that you can stop making them.

Peter Szabó Abstract Brief coaching offers a distinctly different angle on the growing knowledge base about the field of coaching. Coach- ing can be highly effective even in one single session and produce sustainable and lasting results with no automatic need for an ongoing coaching process. In a market where 10 session packages or 6 month contracts are the rule, what Brief Coaching offers stands out. Brief Coaching implies a dramatically different understanding of how to be most useful as a coach. A case example of a single session coaching is described. It outlines the interaction between client and coach and presents 10 central assumptions that guided the coach’s contributions in this specific case. The paper reflects on how these assumptions may have influenced the briefness of the conversation and the lasting result for the client. The paper is also commenting on commonly held assumptions which are different from the ones a brief coach draws on.