International

↗ What does SOLWorld stand for? On the SOLWorld↗ website we can read: SOLWorld stands for Solutions in Organisations Link-up. The strap line is “Sharing and Building Solutions Focused practice in organisations”. For us, sharing is the key word. The originators of the approach, Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, have not trade marked their work. Indeed, the SF approach itself is based on collaboration.

Mark McKergow and Jacqui-Von-Cziffra-Bergs Review by Mark McKergow This very welcome addition to the international Solution Focused bookshelf is a collection about SF applications in Africa. The book is particularly useful in engaging with the particular contexts and traditions of Southern Africa and showing how SF practice connects with these to give a good ‘fit’ in this part of the world. Part of the international spread of SF work in recent years has been the appearance of books and collections about people using the SF approach in different parts of the world. Solution Focused Practice in Asia, edited by Debbie and Dave Hogan, Jane Tuomola and Alan Yeo appeared in 2016, and Yasuteru Aoki has been connecting and publishing organisational work in Japan for a decade. The European Brief Therapy Association just released a collection (Making Waves: Solution Focused Practice in Europe edited by Tomas Switek, Boyan Strahilov and Plamen Panayotov) celebrating 25 years of SF practice in Europe.

Biba Rebolj Introduced by Lilian Ing I love experiencing and working with people from different cultures, and this is what attracted me to this online workshop. I was not disappointed: 22 cultures were present at the meeting, bringing not only their wealth of diversity but also the common ground of being SF Practitioners. SF group learning is always fun, vibey, collaborative and light, and this session was no exception!

Jonas Wells, Susanne Burgstaller, Marika Tammeaid, Mark McKergow,Jesper Hankovszky Christiansen & Dominik Godat Watch video ↗ Introduced by John Brooker We are delighted to feature this case study on the use of SF within inter-organisation collaboration, a collaboration that has been working for 15 years. You can view the video above or download / listen to the audio on Soundcloud below. As well we have added an associated article by Marika Tammeaid below.

Mark McKergow,Chris Iveson & Susanne Burgstaller ↗ In a VUCA world, organisations are challenged to significantly increase their pace of change. To bring about profound transformations in organisations, leaders and coaches need to apply state-of-the-art “social technologies”. Solution Focus provides such an effective “social technology”. Leaders and coaches must apply state-of-the-art “social technologies” to effect profound organisational transformations. Solution Focus (SF)provides such an effective “social technology”.

Wim Sucaet ↗ Being a leader in these times isn’t easy – it is complex, ambiguous and demanding “An unrecognized difference (since it goes by unnoticed) will not receive the amplification needed and will remain a difference that does not make a difference. A simple difference, often just some doubt, can be enough to begin changing a lifelong pattern or way of thinking.” (de Shazer, 1986).

Annette Gray Synopsis Annette Gray and Paut Struik’s session on the Mindsetter Game at the Unconference was designed as a dynamic and engaging way to introduce and apply solution-focused (SF) thinking in the context of sustainability. They chose to use the Mindsetter Game to facilitate discussions on how SF practitioners can integrate strategies for sustainable organisational practices. They drew particularly on Annette’s experiences in Antarctica to provide real-world examples of environmental sustainability. The Mindsetter Game, developed initially by Gesa Doringer, serves as both a teaching tool and a therapeutic intervention, promoting solution-focused approaches in various settings.

Victoria Spashchenko & Julia Kalenberg ↗ Introduction by Yi Feng Khoo When was the last time you went glimmer-hunting? Victoria Spashchenko (Ukraine) and Julia Kalenberg (Switerland) invite us into a heart-opening session where micro-moments of safety, joy and connection gently reshape our nervous systems. Positive sensory experiences serve as the functional opposite of triggers.

Stephanie Salecker ↗ Being a leader in these times isn’t easy – it is complex, ambiguous and demanding Leaders need advanced leadership skills and support on how to deal with their daily leadership challenges. Still, they also need to develop higher levels of leadership awareness and consciousness along the way. These levels are often not developed alone or in isolation, involving a much longer term professional and personal learning journey that can extend over many years.

Mark McKergow,Susanne Burgstaller,Jesper Hankovszky Christiansen,Anton Stellamans,Marika Tammeaid & Jonas Wells ↗ What do SF practitioners involved in large-scale change projects do that works? What do SF practitioners that are involved in large-scale change projects do that works? The Macroanalysis Study Group has studied this question for the last two years. They have examined case stories together and identified some distinctive features of SF organisational development (OD) processes.