The Focus Question
Have you ever found a brilliant solution to a problem that did not fix the problem because you realised that what you solved was the wrong problem!
This happens all the time in relationship consulting. Couples will often come with a list of complaints that seem easy to solve. When issues are resolved, they realise that it was not the real issue.
It takes some experience and training to figure on that it is more helpful to focus on the real problem, not the first problem.
In The Coaching Habit, Stanier suggests that a simple and effective way to get to the real problem is to ask: "What's the real challenge here for you?"
The question as is it written pins the question to the person you are talking to rather than having abstract discussions about what the issue is. It brilliantly focuses on how the issue is impacting the person who is looking for a solution.
I find that this is also a great question to ask myself when I am struggling with an issue. It truly is "The Focus Question".
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