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SF Professional Certificate

SF Professional certificate programme

Solutions Focus Professional is an intensive eight-step training presented in three two-day modules plus a follow-up day. The programme leads to a certificate. This is currently the leading programme in the UK aimed at supporting you towards full membership of SFCT, the professional body for SF coaches, consultants and managers.

What benefits have you gained from the programme? (from the Autumn 2009 participants)

• A guided tour of the breadth and depth of SF thinking, and a collection of tools which have become part of my daily practice
• I'm confident I can deal with anything clients throw at me - I know where to start (if not where things will ultimately go)
• I'm exploring new avenues at work - new ways of working in an old environment
• It has made my world bigger: I see more possibilities and that I'm part of them, and it has given me more courage to do things and position myself in the future I want
• I'm more self-reflective and aware of my own interactions and language
• Meeting such a great group of people - we have all supported each other and will continue to do so
• It has had a massive impact on my life - it's much wider than just a course, I now have confidence in my wider understanding of what to focus on for results

On the programme you will:

• Learn how to quickly build positive change in a wide range of work settings,
  using our unique Solutions Tools model
• Discover where to concentrate your efforts to be most effective by using
  the six SIMPLE principles
• Work on your own issues in the classroom and with a coach as well as with
  the support of sfwork team
• Practise a methodology with wide applicability - to individuals, teams and whole organisations, in all kinds of contexts. You'll never be stuck for something to do in a tough situation.
• Build on your coaching skills and tackle a real workplace project using the SF approach
• Find out how the distinctive Solutions Focus approach compares with NLP, Appreciative Inquiry, positive psychology and other methods
• Complete a project suitable for SFCT full member application should you so wish.

What did you like about the programme? Comments from recent participants

• The respect and care. The project based learning was well structured and paced.
• It was totally engaging; inclusive; constant new knowledge; brilliant material.
• Great people (presenters & colleagues); the companionship; good balance of talk & participation; theoretical & practical - modules well spaced to allow ideas to settle and to put them into practice.
• Mark & Jenny are in a class of their own - great facilitators!
• Great event structure; first rate facilitation; excellent group dynamics; challenging and exacting concepts; magnificent learning atmosphere; Mark & Jenny make learning easy.
• Value for money; fantastic teachers; well paced - each module and overall; support offered offline throughout.

We guarantee that this program, with its compelling mix of presentations and activities, will provide you will new knowledge and skills at every step. You'll apply the tools and concepts to case studies and your own real-life issues. This means your skills will improve fast, enabling you to put your learning to good use immediately.

SF Professional FAQs

"The programme can provide anyone in a leadership or coaching role with a highly effective and very practical approach to overcoming difficulties that is inspiring for others and is so easy to use." Ian Critchley, British Nuclear Fuels

Step 1: Setting The Scene - with your scene-setter pack containing pre-course questionnaire, details of each module, pre-reading suggestions, resources for books, websites and forums.

Step 2: Solutions Focus tools and principles - the first two-day live training module. A detailed look at our six Solutions Tools and SIMPLE principles, building on your existing knowledge with lively activities, case examples, presentations and practice. Start of project work.

Step 3: Personal Coaching - face-to-face and telephone coaching sessions by you and for you, to keep you focused, motivated and learning throughout the programme. Teleconference check-in.

Step 4: SF Conversations at work - the second two-day live training. Review your coaching progress to date with your tutors and supervisors. Developing flexibility and responsiveness. SF approaches to workplace conversations. Working with groups and teams. Rehearse for forthcoming challenges.

Step 5: Support For Your Own Projects - with teleconference, email forums, and continued coaching to give you expert support in your choice of practical project.

Step 6: Staying SIMPLE - the third two-day live training. This concentrates on advanced skills practice and project reports. The interactional view. Post-structural linguistics - simplicity in practice. SF, Appreciative Inquiry, positive psychology and NLP. Solution Focused Reflecting Teams and SF evaluation.

Step 7: Project completion - you continue to write up your project (around 3000 words) and get feedback from us and your colleagues. This is an excellent learning process.

Step 8: Project completion day (three months later, date agreed with all participants during the programme) - you assemble with your colleagues for a day of project reviews, follow-on training and looking forward. Certificates awarded. This is always a full and exciting day.

Step 9: Joining the SF community - you are now invited to apply for full membership of the SFCT, join the UK chapter and come to networking meetings and practitioner updates - whether or not you decide to apply for full membership.

What did you learn?

• I learnt so much I still can't take it all in; better than any learning I've ever done before.
• There was a huge rise in my confidence levels; being prepared to use SF ideas in normal conversation and to try new things
• I initially thought I knew a lot, then I realised I had loads to learn and now I feel I have the grounding to do that learning (particularly the theoretical stuff which gives background)
• Too much to list; SF questions; productive listening; application to consulting & coaching; the SF tools
• Clear and in depth explanations of SF & coaching; importance of language; reference to books, philosophy etc which inspires me to do my own research

Investment: £1599 + VAT (Early Bird £1399 + VAT, SFCT members special rate £1299 + VAT- join at www.asfct.org)

To book your place email info@sfwork.com, or call 08453 707145 (UK) or +44 1242 511441 (outside UK). Let us know which course you are interested in and we will contact you to finalise the details.

This course is project-based, and serves as an excellent and time-efficient way to build up the practice evidence needed to apply for full membership of SFCT, the professional body for SF consultants, coaches and managers. As part of the course you will undertake and write up a project. If you wish, we will support you in developing this as a piece of work for SFCT review. The programme therefore offers an exceptionally effective route to international professional recognition as an SF practitioner.

What impact has the programme had on you? Comments from 2008 participants

• I am more bold in the way I approach consultancy projects. I have no fear of operating in the new mode.
• I'm a better coach & facilitator; I've had at least 3 incredible successes so far as well as ideas for evaluation & mediation.
• I'm more positive with colleagues; much more flexible; listen more and better; more available to colleagues who have noticed a positive change.
• I tried it out with clients and have experienced whole new dimensions to my clients and me.
• Wow! A complete life change... I have excitement at my potential for helping others and am enjoying the energy and creativity this excitement brings.
• My students own their own learning which becomes transformational for them.
• Simply put SF has liberated me - it has completely redefined the way I approach the way I do things, I know now that there is no shame in not being the expert.

Programme information

The programme takes place at Missenden Abbey Management Centre. Early Bird prices are available for bookings made, and paid for, four weeks before the programme starts. Substitutions can be made at any time. Course investment includes materials, refreshments and lunches. Various accomodation options are available, including staying at Missenden Abbey for £70+VAT per night bed and breakfast.

"I came in wondering whether a multi-event investment would be worthwhile, but it has more than rewarded that investment and has given many ideas and much improved confidence. Good value for money" John Brooker, Yes...And! consultant

SF Professional FAQs