In a previous post I wrote about the elements of a good interview. In this post I want to look at some common interviewing mistakes.
Interviewing a family member or a client for a personal history project involves more than just sitting down with a recorder and turning it on. Like anything done well, there is a real skill involved in drawing out the best stories. Here’s a list of mistakes that lead to a poor interview. And believe me I know because over the years I’ve committed all of these at one time or another!
- Not leaving room for silence. This is especially important if you’ve asked a reflective question. Leave space for your subject to think. Don’t leap in with another question right away.
- Sitting too far away from your subject. You want a degree of intimacy. This won’t happen if you’re sitting across the room. Make certain you’re no more than five feet away from your subject.
- Interrupting your subject. Interrupting might work if you’re a journalist trying to get at the heart of a hot story. But you’re not. You’re gathering a person’s reminiscences about their life. Be gentle.
- Talking about yourself. The interview is not about you. Don’t start relating how aspects of your life are just like your subject’s.
- Offering advice. While you might be tempted to toss in some words of wisdom, don’t. Your role is to unlock your subject’s rich treasury of memories. You’re not there as a therapist or counselor.
That’s my list. Do you have any other mistakes to add? Send me your comments. Love to hear from you.
Photo by Victoria
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