Following the Golden Thread of Motivation with Motivational Interviewing

I was coaching a participant in MI Academy the other day, and in our debrief of a practice session, she shared that she was looking for the “golden thread” to follow over the course of a conversation.

What did she mean, “golden thread?”

The golden thread we are looking for is the motivation that lies within our clients. (What a great metaphor!)

We believe it is there. We know it is there. And it is our job to get curious about uncovering and following that golden thread!

We bring this belief (AKA the spirit of MI or heart-set and mindset) to every conversation.

Our job is to find the golden thread of their motivation and follow it!

We apply our OARS skills selectively toward that ‘golden thread,’ or our clients’ motivations for change. We use those Open-Ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections and Summaries to find and highlight that thread!

Through the OARS, we listen deeply to their motivations for change in order to help our clients tie more deeply in to their motivations for change.

We know that the more people talk about change the more likely they are to change! That’s the verdict from change research!

So we have a job as motivational interviewers! Find and follow that golden thread of motivation!

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week:

When you enter into a conversation with a client who is ambivalent about change, we first bring the mindset and belief that there is motivation within them. We look for that ‘golden thread’ of motivation within them. We don’t need to bring it or convince or impart– our job is to uncover the motivation! Apply your OARS skills to seeking the golden thread of change within your clients!

Watch my full video here!