Testimonials

Praise for the Third Edition

‘The Solutions Focus showed me that when people focus on problems, they become world-class experts on the problem. When they focus on solutions, they can become world-class experts on the solution. Wouldn’t the world be a truly amazing place if people focused on solutions and not problems? Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could create together rather than tear things down? This book shows you how to start doing that right now.’

Dr Ivan Misner

BNI Founder and New York Times bestselling author

‘It’s easy to spend hours discussing what went wrong and who is to blame. A much more practical way of looking at teams and organizations is to see what’s working well and do more of that. From that simple premise, this brilliant book, far from sombre in tone and packed with many case studies showing the worth of this approach, will make you see things differently. Its insights and applications will mean you will return to it again and again.’
Neil Mullarkey

Comedy Store Player, creative communication coach and author of In the Moment

‘This book is truly a game changer for anyone who wants to create solutions and positive change in any situation involving people and organisations. Mark McKergow and Paul Z Jackson have managed the trick of making the solutions focused approach very accessible and easy to apply for anyone new to these ideas or wanting new inspiration. The Solutions Focus is a must read for anyone who wants to create change with more speed, more elegance, more use of existing resources, and much more engagement.’
Niklas Tiger

Senior manager Advania, Sweden

‘This new edition of The Solutions Focus is full of distilled wisdom, expressed in sharp, clear prose. In essence, the argument the authors make is that you should focus on solutions rather than problems, use imagination as well as problem-solving and generate creativity through collaboration rather than depending purely on expertise. The world has never needed rapid change for the better than it does now; for anyone looking for solutions to the problems that surround us, this book is a great place to start.’
Sir Michael Barber

Author of Accomplishment: How to Achieve Ambitious and Challenging Things

‘Upon becoming a fully qualified sport psychologist two decades ago, one of the first things I did was register on Paul and Mark’s Solution-Focused course. It was life-changing, and their book The Solutions Focus has been a constant go-to resource for me. This third edition is packed with new ideas, approaches, and techniques to add to my coaching toolbox’
Dan Abrahams

Best-selling Sports Psychology author

‘The Solutions Focus is a masterclass in practical, solution-oriented strategies, perfectly aligned with the dynamic world of high-performance sports. Its insightful principles and models are invaluable for any coach or athlete aiming for excellence by creating unique solutions for unique people.’
Dr Steve Ingham

Director of Supporting Champions, Performance Scientist

‘I was blown away by The Solutions Focus the first time I heard about it. I love the way it helps people rapidly shift their focus and move forward. The tiny signs and small steps make for such energizing progress. Mark and Paul’s work has stood the test of time – because it works!’

Raymond Aaron

New York Times bestselling author

‘Asking the Miracle Question opened us to a breakthrough that changed our business. The process is simple, and I believe it can be transformative for any challenge. That’s a miracle.’
Pete Bissonette

CEO, Learning Strategies, Minnesota USA

‘Perhaps the hardest thing to teach about the Solution Focused Approach is that it is just as much a way of thinking as it is a technique. In this book about coaching, I think the authors take the readers on a journey that is sure to impact the way they view the work they are doing with clients, and even themselves. For me, that makes this book a massive success and one that I hope all coaches will add to the reading list.’
Elliott Connie

Solution Focused Universe

Praise for the Second Edition

‘All good coaches focus on potential, affirmation, and solutions. This book is a must. It is simple, easy to read, and filled with illustrative examples.’

Sir John Whitmore

Author, Coaching for Performance

‘The clearest and most well written of the numerous solutions-focused books I’ve read.’
John M. Littrell

Ed.D., Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Iowa State University, author, Brief Counselling in Action

‘This book is both culture changing and life changing. The thinking that Mark and Paul present is in their own words ‘SIMPLE.’ And it is what they claim it to be but it is also profound. If we can learn to adopt this solutions focused way of approaching everyday situations we will transform our work and our lives in elegant and powerful ways. The book is packed with thought provoking case studies. I love it.’

Sue Knight

Author, NLP at Work

‘Just applying and reapplying the messages and learning from The Solutions Focus has helped me to live my life ‘on purpose’ and have phenomenal success (both financial and emotional) ever since I first got my hands on a copy.’
Dr Emma Langman

Director, Bakerfish

‘A focus on solution construction is the core of great coaching. This is a beautifully crafted, elegantly simple approach to applying the power of solutions to organizations—a must-read for coaches and consultants looking for truly effective tools.’
Anthony M. Grant

Director, Coaching Psychology Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia

‘The book gives a rationale and confidence for letting go of ‘problem analysis.’ Now I can see how to do things even better.’
Peter Ackroyd

Principal Inspector at Office for Nuclear Regulation

‘Before I saw this eminently useful and inspiring book for solution-focused work in organizational contexts I’d not have believed that there are sometimes even easier approaches than those already developed by the Milwaukee practitioners. Although ‘simple’ doesn’t mean ‘easy,’ Jackson and McKergow manage to provide a usable approach for everybody doing practical work in and with organizations.’

Matthias Varga von Kibéd

University of Munich Institute for Philosophy, Logic and Epistemology, SySt Institute for Systemic Training and Research

‘Paul Z Jackson and Mark McKergow have effectively captured a sweet new way to solve problems in complex systems of human interaction. Their clearly articulated and easily practiced Solutions Focus will assist individuals within the chaos of business organizations to pare problems down to size. This entertaining newcomer to the business professional’s library makes interesting reading for anyone who fancies being part of the solution instead
of part of the problem. Because the ideas contained in it are so immediately transferable to everyday issues (both small and large), the book becomes its own natural reinforcer, encouraging the reader to greater know-how and success with each chapter.’
Paul R. Scheele

CEO, Scheele Learning Systems, Minnesota

‘I look for a book to in some way help improve my personal performance. The great thing with The Solutions Focus is that every time I picked it up it caused me to momentarily stop and think about how I operate and in particular how I could take a more solution-focused approach in my work. Great value from a small book.’

Mick Cope

Author, The Seven Cs of Consulting

‘I can think of no better introduction to how solution-focused principles may be applied in organizations. Jackson and McKergow have written a very readable book that draws upon their own practical experiences in turning complex problems into simple solutions that work. This is the sort of book that managers and administrators will keep close at hand, regularly consulting it in dealing with the many challenges that face them. I recommend The Solutions Focus to anyone who is interested in fostering positive organizational change.’
Gale Miller

Emeritus Professor, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, Marquette University and former in-house researcher, Brief Family Therapy Center

‘The Solutions Focus introduces a concept that is both elegant and powerful in its simplicity. For too long, business has wasted time focusing on the blocks to progress rather than finding the routes to success—The Solutions Focus gives you the opportunity to find the routes to success. Don’t be fooled, this process is simple but it is far from simplistic!’

Chris Howe

Owner, ChangeMaker ISL Ltd

‘The Solutions Focus provides a fascinating look at a system that can help people and organizations find answers to the most complex questions. Using numerous enlightening stories and examples from those who have used this type of system to solve some of the most complex problems people and businesses face, the authors have tapped into a plan that can make problem resolution a simpler process for anyone. The organizational process they describe seems to be the guiding principle behind the formatting of the book itself too, because its contents are well designed and thoughtfully focus on clear language, smart thinking, well-refined ideas, and constant summarization of the key facts that can help readers make use of its carefully conceived strategies.’
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