Interviewing -- The Correct Definition

The most spot-on definition would be Conversations.

Really, that is what they are if done properly. We’ve all had to endure interviews for various and sundry reasons in our lives. Sometimes they felt more like an interrogation and others a shallow attempt at “getting to know us.” Either way, we probably left the meeting feeling more than a bit dissatisfied and maybe even cheated. As a professional investigator I believe that the interview is the most important aspect of the entire investigative process. Without that special interchange with subjects, witnesses, etc. what do you really have? Not much. There is no other way to collect the facts, even those with a tinge of embellishment, in order to create an accurate picture of incidents. If the picture is “off” then a solid finding and/or recommendation cannot be made with any assurance. The interviewer has just damaged his/her best tool.

Granted that some people are not quite as skilled at small talk and chit-chat as others. Certain interviewers, while they may be very competent in their jobs, can be intensely focused and often do not realize the benefit of slowing down and taking time to well, actually converse. By their very nature interviews are designed to elicit information - whether it be simple question and answer mode or exploratory style where seemingly irrelevant facts/opinions/observations uncover a treasure trove of information as responses ripple out from the inquiry and expand to include everything but the proverbial kitchen sink.

As with social conversation (one only need refer to Jane Austen) so much is gleaned from what is not said directly or inferred and always at (by today’s standard) a glacial pace. Patience is certainly a virtue in this instance.

Jane Cracraft writes in the May/June 2011 issue of P.I. Magazine that “Conducting a Great Interview” starts with manipulating the physical environment of the gathering. The writer also suggests what to do in controlling not just the pace of the interview but guiding an unfocused witness and calming a suspicious or nervous witness through observation of body language.

Jane and I agree that in today’s world (and I must add especially in the workplace) most persons do not have anyone who truly listens to them or pays attention. Of course, we all pay attention (now, for the wrong reason) when they formalize a complaint and we as investigators and employers MUST listen to them. Not very proactive, is it.

The Short End of the Wishbone

My dear friend Marge collects stuff—not lots of ridiculous stuff (OK, maybe the pigs)—but silly things that come in handy for entertainment purposes on special occasions such as New Year’s Eve like her collection of chicken wishbones. Mind you, we all had had at least one glass of bubbly under our belts by the time Marge proffered her fowl souvenirs and suggested we make our wishes for the New Year before turning to our closest neighbor in the room and snapping the wishbones. Giggling and goofy though we felt at the moment, we did as Marge instructed. To make sure everyone could join in this frolic, I was assigned to play roving wishbone snapper. You would think that snapping with more people would give more opportunities to end up with the long end of the wishbone. Statistically, I did have more opportunities. Sadly, after three separate “snaps” with three different people, I always ended up with the short end of the wishbone. My sister-in-law, the shrink, suggested that I might want to change my wish for better odds.

Since I have a tendency to bring ideas and concepts I experience anywhere back to the workplace arena, I couldn’t resist considering the lesson of the wishbone. Specifically, I wonder if during performance reviews/evaluations employees and their reviewers/evaluators feel that they are holding onto a wishbone. Both parties have a wish for what they would like to see happen in the future. But at the end of the performance evaluation, is it possible that each of them feels that he or she has ended up with the short end of the wishbone? Should they have changed their wishes? Would it make any difference? Generally, both feel a sense of relief on that the evaluation’s over for another year. Did either or both realize the confrontation was a contest to see who had better “snapping” talent? Did either or both feel the winner?

Worrying about the size of a chicken’s dried-out breast bone after a deft snap between two opposing pinkie fingers (or thumb and forefinger) seem inane. Yet, does the concern that we are in for a period of misfortune or at least less than good fortune haunt us on some primitive level? Was I the only one wondering why the wish I had made seemed so elusive? Ultimately, a lone wishbone appeared and I was allowed one final chance to change my destiny. I did as advised, revising my original wish, and voila! I smilingly held aloft the long end of the wishbone for all to see! My friends cheered as loudly as if this underdog had won some important skirmish with fate. Now, if only I could remember the wish I had made.