Here's how you can advance your career using Motivational Interviewing principles.

1 Build Rapport

Building rapport is the cornerstone of Motivational Interviewing, and it's equally essential in the workplace. By showing genuine interest in your colleagues' perspectives and actively listening to their ideas, you create a foundation of trust. This trust facilitates more open and honest communication, leading to stronger team dynamics and collaboration. When people feel heard and understood, they're more likely to support your initiatives and consider your professional advancement favorably.

2 Reflective Listening

Reflective listening is a key component of MI that involves understanding and mirroring back what someone is saying. In your career, this technique can help you to grasp the concerns and motivations of your coworkers and management. By accurately reflecting their thoughts and feelings, you demonstrate that you value their input, which can lead to better problem-solving and decision-making. This skill is particularly valuable during negotiations or when managing conflicts, as it helps to create an environment where all parties feel respected.

3 Evoke Change Talk

In MI, 'change talk' refers to the language that signifies a person's desire to make changes. In your career, eliciting change talk from yourself can help clarify your goals and the steps needed to achieve them. By engaging in self-reflection and expressing your ambitions, you create a self-motivating dialogue that can inspire action. When you articulate your career aspirations to others, it can also encourage them to provide support or opportunities that align with your goals.

4 Develop Discrepancy

Developing discrepancy is an MI strategy used to help individuals recognize the gap between their current situation and where they want to be. In your career, identifying discrepancies between your current role and your professional aspirations can be a catalyst for growth. By acknowledging what skills or experiences you lack and setting a plan to acquire them, you take charge of your career trajectory. This proactive approach shows initiative and can impress supervisors or mentors who might be instrumental in your advancement.

5 Support Self-Efficacy

Supporting self-efficacy is about bolstering a person's belief in their own ability to achieve goals. In the context of your career, this means fostering confidence in your skills and accomplishments. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and use them as evidence of your capability. Encouraging self-efficacy not only improves your performance but also signals to others that you are competent and ready for more challenging roles or projects.

6 Plan for Action

Finally, MI involves creating an action plan for change. Apply this to your career by setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. Determine what actions you need to take to reach your objectives, such as pursuing additional training or seeking out new responsibilities. An action plan provides you with a clear roadmap to follow and demonstrates to your superiors that you are committed to your professional development.