#136 Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Find Their True North | Dr. Stephen Rollnick

Have you ever been given incredibly good advice, but didn’t follow it?

I’m guessing that, for most of us, the answer is a big yes! It may have been because we weren’t ready to implement that advice. It may have also been because the advice came from someone else.

The fact is, we listen to ourselves more than we listen to others.

With that in mind, how can someone from the outside be most helpful?

One of the best answers is an approach called Motivational Interviewing. Motivational Interviewing has long informed how I work. And it is, indeed, an honor to host the co-creator of this scientifically validated approach to counseling.

Dr. Stephen Rollnick is a giant in the field of psychology. Along with his colleague, Dr. Bill Miller, he co-created Motivational Interviewing, and it has gained international acclaim for its effectiveness in helping people change undesired behaviors. As you’ll hear, it’s a bit like a Jedi mind trick for the good: by listening deeply to a person, learning their agenda, the helper can assist in figuring out what is true for the other person, and the person ends up being guided by their own truth. As you’ll also hear, it’s not just for counselors. It can be done by parents with their children, and managers with people who report to them. In fact, my previous guest from episode #126, African American musician Darryl Davis, who helped over 200 men out of the KKK, uses a similar communication style. 

So, listen in as Steve and I talk about Motivational Interviewing and how it can help you help people get in touch with their best agendas and find their true north. Book link: https://amzn.to/3P9FRrE This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).