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Motivating Job Seekers

Dr Margaret Potter

How do you motivate your clients?

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Have a pep talk

Provide incentives

Find a ‘hook’ ie

something they

enjoy or want Identify a

goal(s)

Celebrate small steps/achievements

Motivation Myth 1

Providing job seekers with incentives will solve motivation problems.

Incentives may work in the short term, but their impact tends to diminish over time.

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Key Motivational Factors

• Your approach

• The interactional context

• The psychological climate

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Motivation Myth 2

Fear is a useful motivator eg threatening or punishing an individual will motivate them.

The reality is with repeated exposure the impact of fear tactics will diminish

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Your Approach

• Gain trust and respect

• Provide structure

• Help individuals to set appropriate goals

• Be a role model

• Seek to understand each individual

• Show support & interest in all aspects of their lives

• Encourage enjoyment

Motivation Myth 3

You can motivate the unmotivated client

Your interest & motivation is important to engage the client. However, an individual must have some desire to participate for your work together to be sustainable.

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Stages of Change

Pre-contemplation

Contemplation

Preparation

Maintenance

Action

Progress

Relapse

Prochaska & DiClemente (1986)

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Pre-Contemplation

Client Behaviour• See no reason to

change• May feel unable to

change e.g., FAB, lack of skills

• “What is the problem?”

Your Behaviour• Social support –

largely informational • Clarify roles &

expectations• Empathy vs sympathy

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Contemplation

Client Behaviour• See reason(s) & wants

to change• May not know how• Often disempowered

due to perceived lack of control

• May procrastinate• “Yes, but…”

Your Behaviour• Clarify roles• ID expectations• ID goals and process

steps• ID and reduce barriers

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Preparation

Client Behaviour• Active to explore

change• Active in goal setting• Empowered and

taking control• “What do I need to

do?”

Your Behaviour• Social support-

informational & emotional

• Continue to ID and reduce barriers

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Action

Client Behaviour• Engaged in change• Motivated to achieve

goals & self-monitor• In control• “I am committed and

doing what I need to do.”

Your Behaviour• Social support• Help to achieve goals• Continue to ID and

reduce barriers

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Maintenance

Client Behaviour• Generally adherent• May become bored or

complacent• Able to set & revise

goals (as nec)• “All is going well.”

Your Behaviour• Social support –

informational & emotional

• Self-mgmt strategies important

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Relapse

Client Behaviour• Likely to lose

confidence• -ve self-talk• ID goals and

motivation may subside

• “I got off track!”

Your Behaviour• Social support –

emotional• Re-initiate appropriate

goal setting

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The Interactional Context

• How do you organise & conduct client meetings?– You control>shared control>client control– Consider where and when you meet

• How do you relate to your clients?– Authoritarian, friend, collaborator, mentor

• How do you manage inappropriate behaviour?– Ignore, respectfully address or confront

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The Psychological Climate

Performance-based• Ego-involving• Client inequality• Emphasis on outcome• Mistakes=failure

Task-involving builds perceived competence, relatedness & autonomy

Mastery-based• Task-involving• Client equality• Emphasis on effort• Mistakes=useful

learning experiences

Promoting Motivation

• Give Advice• Remove Barriers• Provide Choice• Decrease Desirability

• Practice Empathy• Provide Feedback• Clarify Goals• Active Helping

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Key Points

• Match client behaviour to stage of change• Support self-efficacy eg acknowledge

even small steps• Start work with clients where they are at• Model what you want client to ‘see & be’• Show patience and tolerance

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Take Home Message

Adopt an approach that facilitates, rather then directs change and

recognise that…

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Take Home Message

…your energy & approach has an impact!

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A Final Thought…

There is only one way to get anybody to do anything…and that is by making the other person want to do it.

Dale Carnegie

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Any questions?Thank you

For further information contact:margaret@smartmoves.net.au