The Man in the Middle

In fourteen exciting episodes, we present a true case study: real people, real business, real problems and exciting interventions. Most likely you will recognize situations that you have also experienced in your own company.

The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Episode 1 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Introduction In fourteen exciting episodes, we present a true case study: real people, real business, real problems and exciting interventions. Most likely you will recognize situations that you have also experienced in your own company. We have chosen to let the story prevail over the explanation of solution-focused thinking and working. We intersperse the story […]

Episode 2 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

With the new merger things have changed, job certainty has gone and so has the sense of teamwork. Peter is confident in himself and his expertise. He never loses sleep over the fact that he, too, might have to leave with a golden handshake. During the merger process, Peter did his best to serve the […]

Episode 3 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

About six months after the merger, top management announced a major change in strategy. A substantial part of Solteam ‘s traditional products would be discontinued and replaced by new products. This required building a new factory. This strategy change caused much tumult within the company: the large investments needed for this new factory were a heavy […]

Episode 4 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Their mutual anger and distrust caused major problems. John and Peter had been slated to work together on the new project of dismantling the production line, but it looked like the project would run into serious problems if Peter and John couldn’t reconcile. Employees began gossiping about the “bad chemistry” between their two managers. The […]

Episode 5 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

The intervention The CEO decided to ask Steve for help. Steve is vice president of the sales department. He is known for his tenacious diplomatic skills that provided him with the nickname “the gentle Pitbull.” Steve goes back a long time with Peter — so it will be no problem to get his help accepted […]

Episode 6 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Steve: “OK, that’s clear. I can understand. I know that you have been doing the most difficult jobs within the department for years now. In the past few months, you have worked very hard to introduce the new employees to their jobs as smoothly and quickly as possible. Everyone admits that the past few months […]

Episode 7 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Steve: “You are getting there, Peter, congratulations. So, you’re saying that the fact that John has at least left you alone, that the management has entrusted the dismantling to you, and that the two of us are now working on a constructive solution is worth a two. Excellent! I know the past few months have […]

Episode 8 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Steve: “Good. Can I ask you a strange question? We’re sitting here talking in your office. Later we will both continue with our own work. Tonight, you’ll go home and spend a quiet evening doing whatever you do at home, and you’ll go to bed. While you are sleeping, suppose a miracle happens. You don’t […]

Episode 9 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Steve: “Shall we take this a little step forward, Peter?” Peter: “Yes please.” Steve: “In our first meeting you told me that you would like to see everybody work together again in the old style. You would like to see people less self-interested and focused on their own career. Instead, you would like to reinstall […]

Episode 10 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Steve: “OK, but that doesn’t have to be a problem. Couldn’t you hold small, informal meetings? Show up at the coffee machine more frequently, stuff like that? During those occasions you could talk about the dismantling project. Without telling anyone, you could design a master plan for the dismantling project and cut it down into […]

Episode 11 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

What about John? Steve had one meeting with John at the beginning of his intervention. John made it clear to Steve that he wasn’t interested in Peter’s position: “Because of my job, I have to think about so many things and people that I really don’t have time to worry about this man. After all, […]

Episode 12 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Peter: “Well, two things actually. One has more to do with the business than the other. To start with, I would like to talk about the external contractors for the project. John thinks that I am too soft and informal with them. I don’t agree with him. I am as courteous to them as is […]

Episode 13 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Steve: “Good, what else would help in the upcoming project?” Peter: “More of the same, I guess. But now things are more complex, especially for the dismantling. The contractor and my people will be working together closely. I have confidence in my own people, but given the degree of complexity, I really have to find […]

Episode 14 – The Man in the Middle: A Solution Focused Feuilleton

Steve: “Now Peter, let’s talk about how you will handle the problem with John.” Peter: “I’ll do my best.”. Avoiding each other doesn’t help us much.” Steve: “True. In our previous meeting you told me that you under- stand his position a lot better than before. You realized that John has a lot on his […]