What is the "Unsolution" approach for career coaching? Several people have asked me recently about what I mean by the "Unsolution" approach when I'm coaching. The "Unsolution" approach is a design thinking technique I use to focus first on deeply understanding and defining the real needs and desired outcomes before jumping into problem-solving or proposing solutions. For coaching, I use this technique to help my students clearly define their needs, blockers, and accelerators, and then imagine what it will look like if their needs are met and they are flourishing in their career. Instead of rushing to "fix" a problem, this approach encourages exploring: Defining Needs Clearly: Clients articulate what they truly need from their work, job, or career—such as autonomy, creative flow, a healthy work environment, or alignment with personal values—without immediately considering specific solutions Visualizing Success and Failure: Clients describe what thriving ("flourishing") looks like, for example, receiving enthusiastic feedback or feeling energized by their work. They also imagine what languishing or failure would look like, such as frustration or loss of motivation. This contrast helps clarify priorities and goals Delaying Solutioning: By postponing the discussion of solutions, clients avoid premature fixes that might not address the core issue. Instead, the process ensures solutions emerge organically from a well-defined understanding of needs and outcomes This method allows for more thoughtful, personalized, and effective coaching because solutions are tailored to actual needs rather than assumed problems. It also helps clients gain clarity on what success means to them, creating a strong foundation for subsequent actions like refining job titles, identifying target audiences, optimizing networking, and planning growth strategies The "Unsolution" is about defining the problem space fully and authentically first, then using that clarity to develop meaningful, aligned solutions rather than jumping straight to fixes.