Stop Forcing Change: Use These Motivational Interviewing Questions Instead

Lean Blog Audio

The blog post

In this episode, Mark Graban explores why so many organizational change efforts stall—not because people are resistant, but because leaders rely on telling instead of asking. Drawing from his recent Lean Blog article, Mark introduces five Motivational Interviewing questions that shift conversations from compliance to genuine commitment.

He explains how MI, a framework rooted in empathy and autonomy, helps leaders uncover intrinsic motivation, build psychological safety, and coach more effectively. Mark also shares a personal example of self-coaching through these same questions, illustrating how they move us from guilt to growth.

Listeners will learn how to use these questions in team huddles, one-on-ones, and moments of cultural transformation — and why respectful curiosity often outperforms pressure in sustaining continuous improvement.

If you’ve ever struggled to “get people on board,” this episode offers a practical, human-centered alternative.