Always Leave Time for a Cup of Coffee: The Unspoken Secret to Great Interviews
The art of the interview is not just in the questions you ask but in the space you create. Many think of this space as merely a physical location—a well-lit room, good acoustics, comfortable seating. But I’ve come to believe there’s another, more intangible space that’s just as crucial: the mental space of the interviewer.
Whenever I’m scheduled to shoot testimonies, my ritual begins long before the interviewee takes their seat. The process starts with allocating ample time. Time to find the right location if not previously scouted, time to set up, to understand the lighting, and above all, time to center oneself.
In the midst of this, there’s a ritual I hold dear: grabbing a cup of coffee in the breakroom. Not just for the caffeine, but for the pause it signifies. The break room, with its hum of activity, becomes an unlikely grounding zone. It’s here that serendipitous interactions with colleagues or random strangers occur. These impromptu moments, the laughter, the casual chit-chat, are not mere distractions. They serve a deeper purpose.
You see, as interviewers, especially for those of us doing the video production, it’s easy to get trapped in the mode of an observer, an analyzer. We adopt a filmmaker’s lens which, while meticulous, can sometimes distance us from the very person we’re trying to understand. The casual interactions over a cup of coffee subtly remind us of the universality of human experience. They gently coax us back into the realm of everyday conversation, enabling us to approach our interviewees not just as subjects but as fellow humans.
Before the formalities of the structured interview begin, those brief, unplanned encounters and interactions play an indispensable role in warming up the interviewer’s psyche. Whether it’s a short chat with a colleague or a jestful comment from a passerby, each interaction serves as a gentle reminder of the innate human connection we all share. Such moments act as a primer, subtly shifting the mind from the procedural and methodical mode into a more relational state. It’s in this state, anchored in genuine human connection, that an interviewer is best poised to dive into a conversation that’s not just informative, but deeply empathetic and understanding, setting the stage for a fruitful and authentic exchange. When you’re aligned in such a manner, your actions, or in this case, your questions, stem from a place of genuine curiosity. They flow easily, without force. The conversations are more authentic, more insightful.
So, the next time you find yourself preparing for an interview or testimony, remember to allocate a bit of time, not just for logistics but for yourself. Dive into those casual conversations, laugh a little, and perhaps, treat yourself to a coffee after your setup. It’s not just about entering a state of relaxation; it’s about grounding yourself. It’s about immersing yourself in shared human experience. In doing so, you don’t just become a better interviewer; you foster a space where genuine stories can unfold.
After all, isn’t that the heart of every great interview?