S.I.M.P.L.E. coaching model is one of the solution-focused approaches often used when working with some of the more complex problems. The model has been developed by two coaching practitioners Paul Z Jackson and Mark McKergow.

These are the underpinning principles of the above model:

Solutions not problems – is about encouraging a client to concentrate on goals and keeping the conversation focused on solutions. Very little time is spent on talking through the problem in order to make a desirable progress.

Inbetween – is about looking out for helpful interactions as clues for moving forward, these could be between the client and their work colleagues, clients and others.

Make use of what’s already there (not what isn’t) – is about noticing evidence of helpful behaviours, results and counters in the client, which are almost always present somewhere there already.

Possibilities (past, present and future) – is about generating a sense of possibility, which can be achieved by reflecting on client’s past achievements, using resourceful words, offering compliments, storytelling and sharing visions for the future.

Language – is about reflecting client’s language and keeping it simple, replacing the big £5,000 with the smaller £5 words.

Every case is different – is about remembering that every person is different and their problems unique. It is about starting fresh every time, constructing new solutions to fit each situation individually. It is about focusing on solutions, not forcing them onto clients.

I hope you find the S.I.M.P.L.E. coaching model useful.

Based on The Solution Focus: Making Coaching & Change SIMPLE by Paul Z Jackson (LinkedIn) and Mark McKergow (LinkedIn).