ABSTRACT
Motivational Interviewing takes its theoretical framework from a Stages of Change Model developed by J. O. Prochaska and Di Clemente. The Learning Communities rely heavily on Motivational Interviewing. Motivational strategies include eight components that are designed to increase the level of motivation that the person has towards changing a specific behaviour. Thus in a coaching context Motivational Interviewing can be regarded as non-judgmental, non-confrontational and non-adversarial. The main goals of Motivational Interviewing are to establish rapport, elicit change talk and establish commitment language from the coachee. The key to coaching using the Motivational Interviewing approach is the focus on ambivalence. Exploring the potential benefits of change is a key element of Motivational Interviewing and is supported by the development of an understanding of the stages of change. The Motivational Interviewing approach, by contrast, ensures that coachees work through this process in a systematic way, stating the problem and identifying long-term and short-term goals and action steps for themselves.
