Last updated on Aug 3, 2024

You're exploring client goals and behaviors. How do you bridge the gap effectively?

When you're tasked with helping someone change, understanding their goals and behaviors is crucial. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It's designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person's own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. To bridge the gap between goals and behaviors effectively, you need to navigate through this process with empathy, strategic questioning, and active listening. This approach can help your clients uncover their own motivations and plan steps toward their desired outcomes.

1 Uncover Motivation

To effectively bridge the gap between goals and behaviors, start by uncovering what truly motivates your client. In Motivational Interviewing, this involves asking open-ended questions that encourage clients to discuss their feelings and aspirations. Listen attentively to their responses, reflecting on what they say to show understanding. This process helps clients hear their own motivations articulated back to them, which can reinforce their desire to change. Remember, the goal is to evoke their reasons for change, not to impose your own.

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Ruben Davis

Senior Retention Specialist at CEO
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Show genuine interest. Encourage clients to talk about their thoughts and goals. Understand ambivalence recognize and validate mixed feelings. "On one hand, you want to stay healthy, but on the other hand, you find it hard to commit to a regular exercise routine." Use Decisional Balance: Discuss the pros and cons of changing versus staying the same. This can help clients weigh their options more clearly. Affirm strengths & past successes. Elicit change talk (e.g., "On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it for you to make this change?") Reinforce change talk by reflecting it back to the client and summarizing it to emphasize their desire and ability to change. Develop a plan of action. Maintain engagement schedule follow ups.

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Zuzanna Sokolowska

Coordinator at Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge (MINDTHNR)
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Find out what matters to them. What makes them excited to get up in the morning. What are their values and how do they align with their goals.

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2 Set Collaborative Goals

Once you've identified your client's motivations, work together to set collaborative goals. This partnership is a cornerstone of Motivational Interviewing, as it respects the client's autonomy and promotes their engagement in the change process. Help them formulate SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—to provide clarity and direction. By setting these goals collaboratively, you ensure they are meaningful and tailored to the client's personal values and motivations.

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3 Explore Ambivalence

Ambivalence, or having mixed feelings about change, is a natural part of the behavior change process. In Motivational Interviewing, you address this by exploring the pros and cons of changing versus staying the same. This helps clients resolve their ambivalence and move toward action. Use reflective listening to validate their feelings without judgment, and help them weigh their options. This can lead to greater clarity about what they truly want and why.

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4 Enhance Self-Efficacy

For clients to bridge the gap between goals and behaviors, they must believe in their ability to succeed. Enhancing self-efficacy, or one's belief in their capability to achieve a goal, is crucial. Through Motivational Interviewing, reinforce past successes and highlight the client's strengths and resources. Encourage small steps that lead to quick wins, boosting confidence and momentum. By fostering a belief in their ability to change, you empower clients to take action.

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5 Develop a Plan

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6 Reflect and Adjust

Finally, it's important to reflect on progress and be willing to adjust the approach as needed. Motivational Interviewing is a dynamic process; as your client works toward their goals, their motivations and circumstances may change. Regularly check in with them to celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and recalibrate goals and plans. This continuous reflection ensures that the approach remains aligned with the client's evolving needs and keeps them on track toward their desired behavior change.

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Cairan George

Holistic Wellness Coach ✨ Helping busy professionals create healthy and balanced lifestyles ✨
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Knowing your client is important. I cannot coach a mid-twenties gentleman and a middle aged single mom the same way. I prioritize getting to know my client, their schedule, their good and “needing improvement” habits - then, develop a plan that is specific to them and their unique needs. Leading with empathy and following up with accountability, another thing I like to do is magnify potential set-backs. For example, my mid-twenties clients may go for promotions at work, may be family planning, or still in school - I focus on prioritization and time-management. I may have them create a “Bare Minimums Plan” and get their schedule blocked on an hour by hour calendar to access where time can be utilized.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You're exploring client goals and behaviors. How do you bridge the gap effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Uncover Motivation

2 Set Collaborative Goals

3 Explore Ambivalence

4 Enhance Self-Efficacy

5 Develop a Plan

6 Reflect and Adjust

7 Here’s what else to consider

Motivational Interviewing

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You're exploring client goals and behaviors. How do you bridge the gap effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Uncover Motivation

2 Set Collaborative Goals

3 Explore Ambivalence

4 Enhance Self-Efficacy

5 Develop a Plan

6 Reflect and Adjust

7 Here’s what else to consider

Motivational Interviewing

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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