Week 3 Discussion

Possibility Approach

Employees generally contact human resources because they have a problem and are seeking a solution. Human resources exist to support employees and work hard to solve problems. HR agents (also referred to as HR consultants) are trained and ready to provide answers, direction, and support. This is a worthwhile response to employee needs, but this approach has its limitations as it is problem based and, therefore, solutions rely upon the HR agent. A new and better approach for an HR is to move the focus from problems to possibilities.

The possibilities approach is when the HR consultant shifts the focus from what is wrong to what is working. The consultant looks for strengths instead of weaknesses. He or she digs for treasure instead of looking to putting problems to eternal rest (burying them)—to build bridges to common ground. The idea, as you can see, is to look for what is possible rather than what seems problematic or impossible. Hence, this methodology toward solving problems is called the possibilities approach.

Strong relationships built upon trust result in better responses from employees looking for solutions. Instead of problem-solving, the HR consultant shifts the focus to solutions that the employee may already possess or know about. Employees are asked to consider what is working well and how might they improve things. The idea is to shifting the attention of the employee who wants to �ght to correct what he or she perceives as wrong to focusing on what is right and helpful.

Consultants are paid to solve problems. The possibilities approach to consulting takes a positive, forward-looking approach to solving problems. It looks to the future. It asks how are things working well . . . how can they work better? It looks to future instead of the present. It builds upon the strengths of people. Therefore, it is a people-based approach, and as such, a successful consultant works to build and maintain relationships.

Additional Materials

From your course textbook Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, read the following chapter:

From Diagnosis to Discovery