Interviewing Techniques and Mindset

Interviewing Techniques

• Effective interviewing is effortless, informing, surprising, and evoking emotion. Great interviewers are fully engaged, uncovering hidden thoughts and feelings, clarifying information, and forging connections seamlessly.
• Skilled interviewers navigate conversations, gaining access to hidden thoughts and feelings, clarifying information, and building connections naturally.
• Examples include Oprah, Anderson Cooper, and Howard Stern, offering detailed, contextualized, emotional interviews filled with stories.
• Oprah creates a safe space for interviewees to open up honestly.
• Anderson Cooper researches interviewees thoroughly and guides them through timelines.
• Howard Stern asks insightful, personalized questions, eliciting honest stories, avoiding obvious questions.
• Interviewing proficiency is developed through experience, passion, and practice, not innate talent.
• Interviews done well appear effortless and fluid, informing, surprising, and evoking emotion. The interviewer is fully engaged in the conversation, gaining access to hidden thoughts and feelings, clarifying unclear information, establishing connections effortlessly.

Interviewing Mindset

• A beginner's perspective (uninitiated) can provide deeper insights.
• Extensive preparation is vital. Understand the subject, key players, interviewee's background, and formulate hypotheses beforehand.
• Building rapport and engagement are crucial. Common interests and connections help. Focus on the "why" and "what does it all mean" aspects of situations, not just the "what."
• Be present and avoid distractions. Recognize interviewees' desire for their perspectives to be heard and validated. Every interviewee wants to feel seen and heard.
• Interviewing skills can be developed, even with a lack of subject matter expertise. A subject-matter novice can often gain deeper insights

During the Interview

• Minimize note-taking, relying on audio/video recording. Jot down key words, phrases to prompt follow-up questions.
• Ground yourself physically.
• Avoid focusing solely on major questions. Explore "off-road" topics to reveal unexpected insights.
• Build rapport early with open-ended, welcoming questions; learn about the interviewee.
• Maintain openness and interest by using the interviewee's name, referencing prior statements, and demonstrating active listening.
• Value silence, pauses, and smiles to encourage thoughtful answers and allow for consideration.
• Comfortably clarify or gently challenge perspectives thoughtfully, exploring different viewpoints and avoiding provocation.
• Address interviewees who stray. Gently remind them of the interview goals, offering positive regard and appreciation for what was said. Rephrase the focus if necessary, "Let's table this point and return to it later if time permits." gracefully shift the discussion.
• Practice and review past interviews to improve techniques.

Interviewing Personalization

• Adapt your style to each interview. Build on approaches from others but establish your unique voice and style. Don't imitate others.
• Every interview is unique. Use prior experience but establish a distinct approach.

Interviewing Techniques (Additional Points)

• Be aware of the balance between blissful unawareness and expert knowledge in your interviews.
• Thorough preparation is needed: research the topic, key players, and interviewee's background to formulate hypotheses.
• Building rapport is key. Focus on the "why" and "what it all means" in addition to the "what."
• Be fully present, without distractions, validating interviewees' desires to be heard.
• Use audio/video recording instead of extensive notes. Use brief notes for follow-up questions.
• Embrace "off-road" moments to gain unexpected insight.
• Engage interviewee interest; use their name, reference previous statements, and demonstrate active listening.
• Value silence. Allow for thoughtful pauses and responses, and use smiles and nods.
• Gently challenge perspectives; your goal is thoughtful exploration, not provocation.
• Guide interviewees back on track when necessary (e.g., politely refocus the conversation) by appreciating their contributions, but gently redirecting to the schedule.
• Practice and review past interviews for improvement.

Explore the art of effective interviewing through insights from renowned interviewers like Oprah, Anderson Cooper, and Howard Stern. This quiz delves into essential skills and mindset shifts that lead to deeper connections and more engaging conversations. Discover how preparation and perspective can elevate your interviewing abilities.