How to Keep an Interview on Track and Engaging

Conducting an interview is an art that blends skills, psychology, and strategy. Whether you’re interviewing for a feature story or a profile piece, one thing is clear: interviews don’t always go as planned. Often, the conversation can veer off course, or the interviewee may become uncomfortable, making it difficult to gather insightful and candid responses. So, how do you ensure that your interview stays on track, stays engaging, and gets you the answers you’re looking for? In this post, we’ll explore key strategies to help you manage the flow of the conversation, engage with your interviewee, and keep things positive and productive.

Keeping the conversation flowing 🔗

One of the most crucial aspects of an interview is maintaining a natural flow of conversation. While it’s important to have a list of questions prepared, interviews are dynamic, and it’s essential to allow for flexibility. You don’t want to be so rigid with your questions that the conversation feels more like an interrogation. But at the same time, you need to ensure that the interview doesn’t derail or lose focus.

Plan your questions, but be ready to improvise. Start with a set of well-structured questions to help guide the conversation, but be open to going off-script if the interviewee offers a compelling tangent. For instance, if they mention an interesting personal story or an unexpected detail, don’t be afraid to follow that lead. This not only helps with the flow of the conversation but also can lead to some of the most engaging and revealing moments in an interview.

Keep the discussion purposeful. Even when you’re allowing the conversation to meander, it’s important to steer it back when it starts to drift too far. This is where your active listening comes into play. Pay close attention to what the interviewee is saying. If they begin talking about something unrelated or irrelevant to the topic at hand, gently bring them back by saying something like, “That’s an interesting point, but I’d like to circle back to…” This keeps the conversation on track without making the interviewee feel dismissed or shut down.

Use follow-up questions effectively. Follow-up questions can act as the glue that binds the conversation. If an interviewee provides a particularly insightful or confusing answer, don’t just move on to the next question. Dive deeper into what they’ve said. Ask them to elaborate or clarify a point. This keeps the interview engaging and gives you the opportunity to explore topics more fully. However, avoid overdoing it. Too many follow-up questions can derail the flow or make the interviewee feel interrogated.

The art of active listening 🔗

Active listening is an often-overlooked skill in the interview process. While asking the right questions is critical, understanding the nuances behind the answers is just as important. Active listening is more than just hearing words-it’s about understanding both the verbal and non-verbal cues of the interviewee. How they say something is often just as revealing as what they say.

Pay attention to body language. Body language can give you insight into how your interviewee is feeling or whether they’re being truthful. Are they avoiding eye contact? Crossing their arms? Shifting in their seat? These may be signs of discomfort or evasion. On the other hand, if the person is leaning forward, making direct eye contact, and speaking with enthusiasm, they’re likely engaged and passionate about the topic. Understanding these cues will help you tailor your questions and responses accordingly.

Listen for emotional cues. The tone of voice, pacing of speech, and even pauses in conversation can tell you a lot about how the interviewee feels. For example, if someone hesitates before answering a question, it could indicate they’re unsure, uncomfortable, or even trying to choose their words carefully. A slight change in their tone might suggest excitement or frustration. By paying attention to these emotional undercurrents, you can gauge how the interview is progressing and decide whether you need to adjust your approach.

Practice empathetic listening. Empathetic listening goes beyond just gathering information. It involves connecting with the person on a deeper level. When your interviewee shares something personal or vulnerable, showing empathy through verbal affirmations (like “I understand” or “That must have been tough”) or body language (nodding or maintaining eye contact) can help establish trust and create a more relaxed environment. When your interviewee feels that you genuinely care, they are more likely to open up and provide you with authentic responses.

Maintaining a positive atmosphere 🔗

One of the most important aspects of any interview is creating a comfortable environment where the interviewee feels at ease. If they’re tense, guarded, or uncomfortable, their responses are likely to be shorter, less candid, and less insightful. Therefore, maintaining a positive and relaxed atmosphere is key to getting the best interview possible.

Start with small talk. Before jumping into the main questions, take a moment to engage in some light small talk. This can be something as simple as commenting on the weather, asking about their day, or complimenting their choice of clothing. This informal start helps break the ice and allows the interviewee to relax before getting into more serious or personal topics.

Be mindful of your tone and body language. Your tone of voice and body language should match the atmosphere you want to create. A warm, friendly tone can immediately put the interviewee at ease, whereas a cold or overly formal tone might make them nervous or guarded. Similarly, your posture should be open and approachable. If you’re sitting with crossed arms or looking distracted, it could make your interviewee feel uncomfortable or that you’re not fully engaged.

Use humour carefully. A little humour can go a long way in diffusing tension and creating a friendly atmosphere, but it’s important to use it appropriately. Avoid using humour that could be perceived as insensitive or dismissive. Instead, light-hearted comments or jokes that relate to the conversation can make the interview feel more like a conversation and less like a formal questioning. Just be sure to read the room-if your interviewee seems more serious or reserved, you may want to tone down the humour.

Express gratitude and respect. One of the simplest ways to keep an interview positive is by expressing gratitude and showing respect for your interviewee’s time and insights. Thank them for agreeing to participate, acknowledge their expertise, and let them know you appreciate the depth of their answers. This can make them feel valued and more willing to share openly with you.

When things go off track: how to recover 🔗

Even with careful planning and skilled active listening, things don’t always go as expected in an interview. Sometimes the interviewee may become defensive, uncomfortable, or start speaking on irrelevant topics. It’s important to remain calm and composed, knowing how to steer the conversation back on track without offending your subject.

Gently redirect the conversation. If the interviewee starts straying off-topic or speaking too much about something irrelevant, politely redirect them by reminding them of the subject at hand. For example, “That’s a really interesting perspective, but let’s focus back on…” or “I’d like to explore more about…”. This will help guide them without seeming rude or abrupt.

Address any discomfort directly. If the interviewee seems uncomfortable or defensive, acknowledge it with sensitivity. Sometimes, a simple, “I understand this is a sensitive topic, but if you’re open to discussing it…” can help relieve any tension and show that you’re not trying to push them into something they’re not ready to share.

Know when to wrap it up. If the interviewee seems exhausted, frustrated, or unwilling to continue, it’s important to recognize when it’s time to gracefully end the conversation. You can thank them for their time and express your appreciation for the insights they’ve shared. This leaves a positive impression and might open the door for future conversations.

What do you think? What challenges do you face when keeping an interview on track? Have you ever had to recover from a difficult or unexpected moment during an interview?