9 Solution-focused starting points with solution-focused change management

Solution-focused principles and techniques are not only useful for individual conversations and team facilitation but also for facilitating organizational change in a broader sense. Here are few starting points which you may use for that purpose.

1. Congruence 1 (between change content and change implementation approach): the change is credible if the way in which the change is implemented fits with what needs to be accomplished.


2. Congruence 2: (between change content and facilitation style): external facilitation by a coach or consultant is credible if it fits with what needs to be accomplished.


3. Communicate rationale: Change is credible and acceptable when careful attention is paid to explaining the reasons behind goals, rules and decisions in terms of specific expected advantages.  


4. Autonomy-focus: Change is more acceptable when people involved on all levels notice that their need for autonomy is respected (being able to make own choices) 


5. Doing What Works: Change is more likely to succeed when there is a strong focus on finding out what works is this specific context and do more of that.


6. Utilize individual perspectives: Change is more likely to succeed when a results focus is always combined with a sensitivity for the perspective of individuals. 


7. Change sparsity: Do not change any faster or more than necessary. Work with short term goals. Change is more acceptable when it is implemented stepwise and when people can -as much as possible - choose their own pace and when they notice that they do not have to change what already works well. 


8. Share decision making: Work as participative as the situation allows: change is more acceptable when people notice that they can contribute to decision making and when they can translate overarching goals into specific solutions in their own work context. 


9. Progress evaluation: Use activating evaluation techniques: change works well when frequent attention is paid to progress made and to what has worked well and how individuals have made that happen.