Change Communication using Motivational Interviewing

"But Building Change is Hard to Do !"

We hear that frequently. What if there were a better way? A better way to help others find and commit to the change they want. A better way to truly collaborate?

Good news - there is a better way. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative approach to unlock change. The focus is not on your change agenda, or even your preferred path to get there. The focus is on the other person or your audience – by listening, reflecting, and connecting change to their values, you allow them to find the desire and the plan for change.

Say goodbye to ‘nodding heads’ as you leave the meeting that belie the lack of commitment to the plan. Say goodbye to misaligned visions and goals. Welcome to change that people embrace because they developed it. Change that sticks because it is what they desire.

Laura Lindberg Sustainability Advisors is collaborating with Enviromentum in offering MI workshops and training. Vince Schutt, co-founder of Enviromentum, has extensive experience in practicing and teaching MI. Vince’s PhD research is on the training and application of Motivational Interviewing within environmental communications.

Training in MI methods can help to open communication channels within an organization, by finding the reasons for change, the change goals, and the confidence to take the next steps. MI training can enable your teams to enhance dialogue and understanding between departments, or gain support for broad change goals. We will uncover assumptions about how and why people make changes and offer a fresh perspective.

Relying on a high dose of experiential learning and lots of fun interaction, these MI workshops are perfect for employee engagement, communication training, or leadership development. Whether you are trying to gain support for sustainability goals and actions, or trying to secure a change plan with your customers or clients - MI can help you get there faster, and help your change stick.

Proven effective...

Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based approach that is the global Gold Standard in helping people change.

In multiple studies, MI has been found to be equally or more effective than other behaviour change methods... but MI gets there faster.

Engaging. Effective. Fast.

Motivational Interviewing Workshops and Training

Engaging, Experiential Learning

Introduction to Motivational Interviewing– Workshop (half-day). In-person or online.

Learn and practice key concepts in a practical and engaging session.

Intrigued? Consider deeper training to develop your team’s skills and confidence to use motivational interviewing to make interactions more meaningful and sustainable:

MI Communications – Two-day workshop or weekly online sessions

Focused communication skill building. Excellent professional development for those who engage internal or external clients in behaviour change.

Intermediate Training – Three-day training or weekly online sessions

Embrace the path to revealing the best change communicator you can be. These skill workshops have been carefully crafted to advance your potential in MI as rapidly as possible. Powerful experiential learning approaches include self-reflection, visualization, storytelling, memory recall, debriefs and active participation.

Expected learning outcomes include:

Receive an introduction to a communication approach that is the Gold Standard for facilitating change in others
Improve skills in listening and seeing, in order to shape what / how we speak
Learn how to uncover a more accurate picture of people’s motivations
Develop emotional awareness and control for higher quality engagement and better outcomes
Practice practical approaches to help others discover the change they want, and how to avoid enabling them to remain stuck on the path of ‘status quo’

Participants tell us they were ‘blown away’ by the insights and applicability to their work. Perhaps MI can help your team be even better !

Please drop us a note to start the conversation.

Participant Testimonials

· It is a known fact that those who hold leadership positions constantly deal with stressful and tense situations. Laura and her team taught my cohort in the University of Toronto how to critically understand the "Motivational Interviewing” and how it integrates different bands of emotions. This was a mind-blowing experience for me because the way the session was taught had penetrated a more crucial part of my life - my background and my future!!! Even though our career space seems like the most important aspect of exploring and resolving ambivalence, I would like to indicate that success in this skill comes in many different forms. Culturally, I have grown to understand that "you can be told what to do".... but Laura's workshop made me realise the importance of collaborative and evocative conversations.

The most compelling part is that since I have introduced this pattern of communication with raising my kids and my entire relationships, I must confess that I have started living my most desired and fulfilling life.

I really do hope that Laura knows how deep rooted her programme shaped my existence.

Ihuaku AzumaAwoyo

· I first learned about MI from a former staff a few years ago; they helped us realize that we need this as part of the behaviour change work that we do. It was only years later that we were able to actually apply for a grant to get MI training and we’re thankful for this. After the first session, I realized that MI is about emotional regulation and boundaries… and so much more.

I love that when I have MI conversations, even in 20 minutes, we end up a very different place than where we began. I also love that my responsibility is to show up, listen, and hold space for the other person and by doing that, we can come to a really great place that builds relationships.

As someone who manages staff, one of my goals is to ensure that I keep my emotions “green”. Just by doing this one thing changes my relationship with my team. My hope is that in the future, I’ll be able to incorporate more of MI into how I manage my team.

Thank you so much!

Dorinda So

Executive Director, pointA

Participant Testimonials (cont'd)

"The MI course has helped me identify my own limitations when communicating with others about change. I now have tools to slow down and communicate more intentionally. Since implementing MI techniques in my conversations with clients, our progress has stayed on track and we've been able to really focus on the best approach for them to make lasting change."

Amy Elvidge

Program Manager, pointA

I had the pleasure of participating in a twelve-week motivational interviewing course led by Laura Lindberg (Laura Lindberg Sustainability Advisors) and Vince Schutt (Enviromentum). I am delighted to say that I’ve been using my MI skills ever since. Working in sustainable transportation, I value having an evidence-based, effective set of skills to help my clients make real changes to their daily habits.

Kelly Bray (she/her)

Associate Director, Best Workplaces for Commuters