Many of us want to be politically persuasive (me!)...but have met with
frustrations. Citizen's Climate Lobby offers a webinar in what's called
Motivational Interviewing (MI) ...it's worth a look.
The way I read MI, the least effective persuasion is a fight, a little more persuasive is an argument. Most persuasive of all, however is a partnership. That's what Motivational Interviewing promotes and enables. MI originated with psychologists trying to persuade addicts to revise their behavior, but you'll see it can apply to many more things than that.
Here are my notes (and the link to the webinar) followed by a real life example:
Partnering for Change with Motivational Interviewing for Citizen Advocates [Webinar]
- psychologist Dr. David Christian
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?
1. The Spirit of MI:
Partnership of Equals
Acceptance: empathy, autonomy
Compassion: Caring for them
Evocation: Use their wisdom
Emotional leakage (Partners are called the following when we succumb to "leakage": in denial, ignorant, deluded, uncaring, evil/immoral, stupid, backward)
Remedy: Learn and show you care about partners' values. Republican values include the following: 1. Individual liberty, 2. Energy freedom, 3. Economic security, 4. Business opportunity, 5. National Security, 6. Market-based solutions, 7. Individual responsibility, 8. Fairness based on effort, 9. Treating people equally, 10. Respect for innocent life. 11. Patriotism/Nationalism, 12. Deference to tradition, 13. Avoiding radical changes, 14. Eliminating subsidies, 15 American ingenuity, 16, Improving Infrastructure, 17. Privatization, 18. Reduced regulations, 19. Sustainability, 20. Supporting families, 21. Protect taxpayers, 22. Revenue neutrality, 23. Reducing spending, 24. Conservative leadership, 25. Avoid big spending, 26. Smaller government.
Identify respect, and call out a couple of values. (You don't have to agree with them all)
People are best persuaded by their own reasons:
2. Four Processes
Engage: Establish partnerhips
Focus: Clarify their agenda
Evoke: Elicit reasons for change
Plan: Commit to a plan of action ("the ask")
3. Core Skills: OARS
**Open-ended questions (not yes/no...better: How much do you know about our bill?)
**Affirmations (Spotlight abilities, strengths, efforts, values, intentions, use recognition, not praise)
**Reflective Listening (Show nonjudgmental understanding of a) their thoughts and feelings, b) both pro / con, c) both stated and implied)
**Summaries (Problem as they see it, options they like and why, agreements and follow-up plans)
4. Evoke Change Talk: DARN CAT
Change talk is talk that argues for change. It predicts change, Talk the talk before walking the walk... Resolves ambivalence preventing change before change occures.
Desire - Their desires for change
Ability - their abilities and means to make change
Reasons - reasons to change
Need - their need to change
...after resolution of ambivalence.
Commitment - what they say they will do to change
Activation - willingness to start the change
Taking Steps - steps they have taken or are taking
DARN CAT is not about us, it's about our "partners"
"D" asks conservative congressman: "What are your environmental desires?" (Answers with more interest: Carbon sequestration...movement in the right direction, corridors for renewable power transmission...economic growth and sustainability)
The object is to step into a collaboration role, not an adversarial one, to pursue a common goal.
Planning: The Bridge to Action
Summarize and make your "ask":
- Would you be willing to _______?
- Who can we follow up with?
What information would be helpful?
Could we offer you information on ______?
...Set the stage for more collaboration
[Review of MI's skill sets: 1 - 4 above]
Read the book "Motivational interviewing: preparing people for change" - William R. Miller website: http://www.
Practicing these skills live is the best way
It's possible to communicate in written rather than verbal format. Use OARS, etc. Writing slows things down.
This kind of persuasion applies in many contexts - e.g. physician persuading a patient to change behavior.
Best presentations have back-and-forth interactions with the audience. Being the "sage on the stage" is less effective than audience dialog, open-ended questions, addressing their concerns, values and questions. The latter is more effective.
Often, addressing staff is more effective than talking to the MOC.
--------
OK, now here's a real life example of a natural MI interaction:
My wife and I were walking our dog when we encountered our neighbor rolling out her trash. We've previously interacted with her and her husband and discovered they were extremely, xenophobically, Republican. They particularly deplored those darn Mexicans.
To really appreciate this, you have to know my wife was born and raised (until 16) in Mexico. She is a legal immigrant and didn't need our marriage to get a green card, but still...she's Mexican! (Eeek!)
My wife stopped, and the neighbor said "Hi!" politely, and admired our dog. When we asked how was her husband, she let us know he moved out, and now resides in "memory care." We knew his dementia was worsening, but were a little surprised at this turn of events.
My wife then took time to express her sympathy, describe her experience dealing with loss, and offered to listen to our neighbor's troubles, or just have a cup of tea whenever she'd like. The neighbor was already a little teary (she misses her husband), and was very appreciative. My wife asked if she could hug the neighbor...[they hugged]... We said goodbye and walked home with the dog.
We had no political conversation, but I'd suggest Mexicans aren't the big bad enemy any more (or are less so).
The way I read MI, the least effective persuasion is a fight, a little more persuasive is an argument. Most persuasive of all, however is a partnership. That's what Motivational Interviewing promotes and enables. MI originated with psychologists trying to persuade addicts to revise their behavior, but you'll see it can apply to many more things than that.
Here are my notes (and the link to the webinar) followed by a real life example:
Partnering for Change with Motivational Interviewing for Citizen Advocates [Webinar]
- psychologist Dr. David Christian
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?
1. The Spirit of MI:
Partnership of Equals
Acceptance: empathy, autonomy
Compassion: Caring for them
Evocation: Use their wisdom
Emotional leakage (Partners are called the following when we succumb to "leakage": in denial, ignorant, deluded, uncaring, evil/immoral, stupid, backward)
Remedy: Learn and show you care about partners' values. Republican values include the following: 1. Individual liberty, 2. Energy freedom, 3. Economic security, 4. Business opportunity, 5. National Security, 6. Market-based solutions, 7. Individual responsibility, 8. Fairness based on effort, 9. Treating people equally, 10. Respect for innocent life. 11. Patriotism/Nationalism, 12. Deference to tradition, 13. Avoiding radical changes, 14. Eliminating subsidies, 15 American ingenuity, 16, Improving Infrastructure, 17. Privatization, 18. Reduced regulations, 19. Sustainability, 20. Supporting families, 21. Protect taxpayers, 22. Revenue neutrality, 23. Reducing spending, 24. Conservative leadership, 25. Avoid big spending, 26. Smaller government.
Identify respect, and call out a couple of values. (You don't have to agree with them all)
People are best persuaded by their own reasons:
2. Four Processes
Engage: Establish partnerhips
Focus: Clarify their agenda
Evoke: Elicit reasons for change
Plan: Commit to a plan of action ("the ask")
3. Core Skills: OARS
**Open-ended questions (not yes/no...better: How much do you know about our bill?)
**Affirmations (Spotlight abilities, strengths, efforts, values, intentions, use recognition, not praise)
**Reflective Listening (Show nonjudgmental understanding of a) their thoughts and feelings, b) both pro / con, c) both stated and implied)
**Summaries (Problem as they see it, options they like and why, agreements and follow-up plans)
4. Evoke Change Talk: DARN CAT
Change talk is talk that argues for change. It predicts change, Talk the talk before walking the walk... Resolves ambivalence preventing change before change occures.
Desire - Their desires for change
Ability - their abilities and means to make change
Reasons - reasons to change
Need - their need to change
...after resolution of ambivalence.
Commitment - what they say they will do to change
Activation - willingness to start the change
Taking Steps - steps they have taken or are taking
DARN CAT is not about us, it's about our "partners"
"D" asks conservative congressman: "What are your environmental desires?" (Answers with more interest: Carbon sequestration...movement in the right direction, corridors for renewable power transmission...economic growth and sustainability)
The object is to step into a collaboration role, not an adversarial one, to pursue a common goal.
Planning: The Bridge to Action
Summarize and make your "ask":
- Would you be willing to _______?
- Who can we follow up with?
What information would be helpful?
Could we offer you information on ______?
...Set the stage for more collaboration
[Review of MI's skill sets: 1 - 4 above]
Read the book "Motivational interviewing: preparing people for change" - William R. Miller website: http://www.
Practicing these skills live is the best way
It's possible to communicate in written rather than verbal format. Use OARS, etc. Writing slows things down.
This kind of persuasion applies in many contexts - e.g. physician persuading a patient to change behavior.
Best presentations have back-and-forth interactions with the audience. Being the "sage on the stage" is less effective than audience dialog, open-ended questions, addressing their concerns, values and questions. The latter is more effective.
Often, addressing staff is more effective than talking to the MOC.
--------
OK, now here's a real life example of a natural MI interaction:
My wife and I were walking our dog when we encountered our neighbor rolling out her trash. We've previously interacted with her and her husband and discovered they were extremely, xenophobically, Republican. They particularly deplored those darn Mexicans.
To really appreciate this, you have to know my wife was born and raised (until 16) in Mexico. She is a legal immigrant and didn't need our marriage to get a green card, but still...she's Mexican! (Eeek!)
My wife stopped, and the neighbor said "Hi!" politely, and admired our dog. When we asked how was her husband, she let us know he moved out, and now resides in "memory care." We knew his dementia was worsening, but were a little surprised at this turn of events.
My wife then took time to express her sympathy, describe her experience dealing with loss, and offered to listen to our neighbor's troubles, or just have a cup of tea whenever she'd like. The neighbor was already a little teary (she misses her husband), and was very appreciative. My wife asked if she could hug the neighbor...[they hugged]... We said goodbye and walked home with the dog.
We had no political conversation, but I'd suggest Mexicans aren't the big bad enemy any more (or are less so).
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