Coaching Practiced

27 MI techniques: Agenda Mapping

Jonathan Passmore

Abstract

This article is the fifth in a series drawn from the Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach. In this paper I will briefly review a ‘technique’ which is at the start of the MI process and while not formalised in much of the coaching literature is a common practice among coaching psychologists when using Cognitive Behavioural Coaching and behavioural-based approaches such as GROW. This technique, Agenda Mapping, aims to help the coach and coachee to agree the focus for the coaching conversation.

Original publication details: Passmore, J. (2013, June). MI techniques: Agenda mapping. The Coaching Psychologist, 9(1), 32–35. Reproduced with permission of The British Psychological Society.

In previous articles I have explored techniques from MI which could be used by coaching psychologists within their own practice. Some may argue that these techniques, such as recognising and working with change talk require a high level of sophistication in the skills of the coaching psychologist. This is true. But not all of the concepts used by MI are as complex or require such a high level of competence. Some of the methods used within MI share strong similarities with traditional coaching. What makes MI distinctive is that it offers a fresh way to conceptualise these approaches and a language to discuss them. Further, extensive research by practitioners has demonstrated that MI is a highly effective intervention. One example which ...