The start of a new school year is coming! School supplies are flying off the shelves as summer vacation comes to a close. This week, let’s take a minute to think about how we can best converse with students to help them reach their goals. Have a minute? It’s 8:00 am on a Monday. I
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August 4, 2019
July 26, 2019
The Problem with Minimal Encouragers
When thinking of what constitutes a good listener, minimal encouragers are likely to come to mind. If you don’t know what ‘minimal encouragers’ are, you likely are familiar with hearing or saying them. Minimal encouragers are utterances such as: “Mhm,” “yeah,” “oh,” (nodding of the head), and a favorite in Wisconsin: “interesting.” A “minimal encourager”
July 12, 2019
The Timing of Change
This week, I’ve been out in my raspberry patch, picking delicious berries. All this hunting for the ripe berries has me thinking about the importance of timing. In conversations about change, timing is essential. The moments at which a better listener (you!) chooses to use a strategic question, reflection statement, or affirmation – not too
June 26, 2019
4 Things to Expect in MI Training
Wondering what you can expect with your upcoming Motivational Interviewing (MI) Training? If you’ve taken the step to invite an MI trainer to your organization, or if you’ve decided to attend a workshop on MI for the first time, you are already on your way to being able to motivate your clients in a new