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Interviewing with Impact

Objectives

By the end of the one-day training programme the delegates will:

• Understand the importance of the three main elements in successful interviewing
• Planning
• Conducting the interview
• Reporting
• Be able to plan against issue analysis, company information, market intelligence and knowledge of company culture and choose appropriate interviewees in order to gain several perspectives on the issue(s).
• Understand the advantage of, and be able to construct, an interview guide which assists in achieving the goal and avoids losing sight of the main objectives
• Be able to follow the I.M.P.A.C.T. process and utilise the skills that underpin each step. (See below)
• Be able to complete a report that is structured, objective, easily understood and specific.

Planning and Preparation

• Be able to apply the concept of having as full an understanding as possible of what the issues are
• Be aware the via Issue Analysis they will have a clearer picture of the situation/implications
• Know how it is important to approach any interview situation with an open and objective mind expressing no opinion on the situation prior to conducting interviews.
• Have a set of criteria by which they can choose appropriate interviewees
• Commit to taking responsibility for finding as much additional information that may have a bearing on the situation
• Be able to plan with objective, interviewee and time considered prior to constructing questions.
• Be able to utilise any interview guide as a tool to help them focus on the main issues and objectives of the project while avoiding the pitfall of simply trying to ask all the questions on their pre-prepared guide during the allotted timescale

Conducting the interview

I.M.P.A.C.T. process

PROCESS	GOAL OF EACH STEP
INTRODUCTION	Construct a concise informative introduction that clarifies the client focussed objective and ensures a positive response and commitment from the interviewee
MOTIVATE	Build instant rapport with any interviewee and ensure that they are in a suitable state in order to communicate in a relaxed and open fashion Listen in order to understand and motivate the interviewee to respond openly
PROBE	Use the interview guide appropriately, funnel questions, exhibit flexibility around questions, structure questions to avoid interrogation, challenge while maintaining rapport, understand how interviewees process questions and how to frame that process and handle any objections
ASSESS	Utilising the techniques of accurate reflection, summarisation, in order to gain further clarification, specificity and to stimulate new insights
CLOSE	Construct an appropriate close in line with previously stated objectives, any reassurances required and to manage expectations and generate/handle any interviewee questions
TRANSFER	Record data in an objective manner to a format which ensures interviewer objectivity is maintained

 

Reporting

Discuss the practicalities of achieving the goals outlined in "T" above

Objective

By the end of this "reporting" section they will:

• Understand how accurate and dispassionate recording of information can be affected by the people we interact with
• Know how to avoid subjective assessment and reporting as much as possible
• Be able to construct a report which contains:
  • A précis of the Situation
  • The positive and negative-Implications of that situation (from all perspectives)
  • Examples of the specific Evidence as sited by interviewees in support of their views/opinions
  • A top-line list of Action options considered as a result of ALL of the information received (and if rejected -why rejected)
  • Final-Recommendation of action based on the review of all the information