Understanding Slow Decisions: How "Motivational Interviewing" Can Help at Work

The blog post

Think about the last time you made a major career decision. I'm thinking of one of mine, in particular.

Was it about leaving a job for a new one? Changing directions in your career altogether?

Was it a debate about which of the job offers you would accept?

How easy was that? How long did it take you?

In hindsight, some of my career decisions took too long to play out. Afterward, my wife would ask, "Why didn't you do that sooner?"

I'm also thinking of a major decision that was in the news today—it's been drawn out over the past few weeks, and it's a more important decision than one I've ever considered.

During my career, one of the most helpful concepts I've learned about is "motivational interviewing." See more blog posts about this approach. This approach has roots in addiction counseling, developed by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick in the 1980s to help individuals struggling with substance abuse find their own motivations for change. Its principles can be applied far beyond addiction, proving invaluable in leadership and coaching.

Lessons from Motivational Interviewing