Motivational Interviewing for Supervisors and Organizational Leaders

Did you know that Motivational Interviewing is already well established in the field of supervision and leadership? 

We already know, via over 2,000 studies, that MI is an evidence-based practice for working with clients who are struggling with change. 

It’s not a far leap to consider how MI can be utilized in conversations with employees, and within organizations. 

Staff struggle with ambivalence about change! Organizational change, personal change, changes needed related to work expectations… 

• Do you want to cultivate independent, critical thinkers who are intrinsically motivated?
• -Do you have conversations with staff who are struggling with ambivalence, and giving advice isn’t working?
• -Do staff struggle with organizational change & buy-in?
• -Do directive or consequence-led approaches often cause employees to leave rather than stay invested in the organization and change?

Supervisors need different styles of communication and tools to effectively coach employees. Organizational leaders benefit from a culture that encourages collaboration, partnership, demonstrates empathy, affirms staff and empowers the growth and development of everyone. 

Supervisors are often skilled at teaching the systems, rules, and processes within organizations, but not always skilled at coaching and motivating staff.

Motivational Interviewing helps us be good coaches, so that we can be “guides on the side” rather than tugging or pushing people to change.

If you want a deeper dive into the nuances of this interplay of MI and supervision, there are two published books on the topic:

1. Motivational Interviewing for Leaders in the Helping Professions by Colleen Marshall and Annette Sogaard Nielsen 
2. MI Lead: Motivational Interviewing Leadership by J. Wilcox, B.C. Kersh & E Jenkins

There is a also sub-group within the MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) called MILO (Motivational Interviewing Leadership Organization). They have a website with lots of resources! 

Plus, here is a podcast episode on MI and supervision from Talking to Change.

And folks- MI cannot be used for everything! There are limitations to utilizing Motivational Interviewing in supervision and leadership. Sometimes, a more directive style of communication and leadership is necessary. Sometimes, we need to follow an employee’s lead. But oftentimes, having a tool like Motivational Interviewing is so helpful for having those in-between conversations when it will be more effective to listen, empathize, collaborate and evoke motivation for change from your staff!

We have trained supervisors and organizational leaders at MI Center for Change. Click here to learn more about our online MI Academy, or customized training & consultation for organizations or leadership teams. We also provide intensive organizational implementation in MI, which often needs to begin with supervisors and leaders!

In this article about using MI in the workforce, Pam Pietruszewski writes, “Motivational interviewing becomes a way for organizations to explore some of their most prominent and pressing workforce challenges impacting stress and burnout. Rather than viewing staff as resistant to change and growth, the MI approach leads with empathy and curiosity. Employee engagement and retention is improved when staff feel understood, trust is enhanced and respect is mutual. Organizational belonging is affirmed when we foster more constructive dialogues that include diverse ideas and experiences, and the path to resolving ambivalence becomes clearer when MI is used to align workplace values with behaviors.”

Motivational Interviewing Tip of the Week: If you are a team lead or supervisor or organizational leader, you know that it takes many different skills to support and cultivate change with staff! Motivational Interviewing is an effective tool to add to your toolbox! Consider how spirit elements of MI can support engagement and buy-in, as well as the OARS skills that support the development of critical thinking, connection with internal motivations, and action plans to support change. 

Watch my full video here!