Sulution Focus

Focus more of your attention and energy on the solution rather than the problem, and broaden your horizons towards possible next steps and spare time, energy and money while building trust, responsibility and confidence.

Where we place our attention shapes what we create.

In many teams, it’s easy to get stuck in problem-analysis loops — identifying what went wrong, who’s responsible, or why things didn’t work. While reflection has its place, a solution-focused mindset invites us to shift the conversation: from what’s broken to what’s possible, from blame to curiosity, from weaknesses to strength, from stagnation to movement.

Rooted in coaching and organizational development, Solution Focus is a practical yet profound approach that aligns beautifully with agile and more evolutionary models – like TEAL values. It supports self-managing teams, encourages wholeness, and opens space for emergent, purpose-driven next steps.

Instead of fixing people or systems, we explore what’s already working — and how to build on it. We ask questions like:

• What’s better already?
• What would be a small step forward?
• What strengths are showing up here already?

This shift isn’t naive optimism — it’s a deliberate choice to use attention as a creative force. It empowers individuals and teams to act from clarity and alignment, rather than reactivity or fear.

NextTeamStep is built around this mindset. I offer collaborative tools and practices to help inclusive, value-driven teams grow, learn, and create meaningful impact — one next step at a time.

Focusing on what works, spotting hidden resources, and identifying next small steps – all in a fun, energizing way.

“From Glitch to Spark!” – A Solution Sprint Game

Before you dive into the activity, take a moment in your small groups to reflect on these questions:

• By the end of this session, what do you hope will be different or better — for yourself, your team, or the way you work?
• And how will you notice that it’s happening?”

Team Setup

• Split into small teams of – ideally – 3 people (or in pairs)
• Each team gets a space on the Miro board
• You’ll facilitate and keep time

Imagine this: You’re planning a surprise weekend getaway with friends. Everything was going well, but a few things go wrong — one friend forgot their ID, the Airbnb host canceled last minute, the GPS went offline… chaos! But you only have one goal: make the weekend awesome anyway.

Game Flow

1. Glitch Drop (5 mins)

Each team gets 1–2 “glitch cards” (surprise problems from the scenario). They can draw cards or you can post them in Miro (e.g. “The Airbnb host just canceled!”).

2. Spark Hunt (10 mins)

Teams explore:

• What is still working?
• What resources do we have?
• When did we handle a similar situation well?
• What’s the next smallest, useful step?

All ideas go on Miro stickies.

3. Sprint Planning (10 mins)

Based on the sparks, each team creates a “Rescue Plan” for the weekend, in 3 simple solution-focused steps.

Encourage creativity, humor, and quick thinking.

4. Share & Reflect (15 mins)

Each team shares their solution. Then reflect as a group:

How could we apply this mindset in our actual team challenges?

How did it feel to look for what’s working?

What shifted when you moved away from the problem?

5. Name the Game

Let teams name their getaway based on the vibe of their solution for a bit of extra fun.

• Make a copy of the Miro board and update it for your own use.
• Create the collaboration space for your team meeting online, or prepare the room if you’re meeting onsite.
• Share the Miro board with your team before the scheduled meeting.
• Plan the meeting agenda and timing.
• Hold the meeting with your team.
• Evaluate the meeting. You can find guiding questions in the Feedback section.
• Add the agreed next steps from the meeting to your team’s task board (e.g., in Jira).
• Follow up on the implementation of these commitments.
• Re-evaluate the topic and your achievements regularly, and agree on new steps to further improve collaboration.

At the end of the meeting or immediately afterward, ask participants for feedback to evaluate the session. A practical tool for collecting feedback is menti.com.

Thank you in advance for your feedback on how useful you found this content.
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I’m curious to hear your feedback on how successfully you used the information and tools provided here with your team.
Feel free to share your experiences in a comment — what worked well, what worked less so, and what you did differently that proved effective.