Motivating Job Seekers

1. Motivating Job Seekers Dr Margaret Potter

2. How do you motivate your clients?

3. Provide incentives Have a pep talk Celebrate small steps/achievements Find a ‘hook’ ie something they enjoy or want Identify a goal(s)

4. 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.

5. Key Motivational Factors • Your approach • The interactional context • The psychological climate

6. 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

7. 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 Your Approach

8. 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.

9. Stages of Change Pre-contemplation Contemplation Progress Preparation Relapse Action Maintenance Prochaska & DiClemente (1986)

10. 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 Pre-Contemplation

11. 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 Contemplation

12. 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 Preparation

13. 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 Action

14. 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 Maintenance

15. 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 Relapse

16. 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

17. 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

18. Promoting Motivation • Give Advice • Remove Barriers • Provide Choice • Decrease Desirability • Practice Empathy • Provide Feedback • Clarify Goals • Active Helping

19. 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

20. Take Home Message Adopt an approach that facilitates, rather then directs change and recognise that…

21. Take Home Message …your energy & approach has an impact!

22. 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

23. Any questions? Thank you For further information contact: margaret@smartmoves.net.au