Solution-focussed coaching (Jackson and Waldman 2011)

involves establishing a platform for work between coach and coachee and developing a rich picture of the coachee’s desired future. The coach uses techniques such as scaling questions (asking coachees to rate themselves from 1–10 in terms of the desired future), counters

(encouraging the coachee to notice existing strengths and resources)

and affirmations (identifying positive qualities) to support movement towards the desired future. One PDE used this in her mentoring work with a practitioner who, at the point of passing her ASYE, was considering her professional development needs in a new job. The PDE’s previous positive knowledge of the ASYE’s work helped build the platform for their work, and focusing on the ASYE’s past successes enabled the ASYE to affirm the strengths and personal resources she would bring to the new role. Feedback from the ASYE that the work had been valuable and that the PDE, rather than offering advice, could have challenged her more to come up with her own solutions provided material for reflection for the PDE.