The secret interview technique few use . . . but everyone should!
If everyone should use this interview technique, why is it a secret? I’m glad you asked. What makes it a secret is that so many investigators overlook it because they feel it’s a waste of time. Not many understand the science behind it . . . and there is science to back it up!
The Secret Interview Technique
So, what is the secret? The “secret” technique is rapport building, and it’s more than talking about the weather! The science behind it is that we are hard-wired to perceive threats to our well-being. Rapport-building eliminates the threat, and helps the witness retrieve information from memory with better ease. It also makes the witness feel more open to discuss what he or she knows.
How is the Secret Used in Investigative Interviewing?
Rapport building can be used in many subtle ways, including:
- greeting the witness;
- explaining interview methods to the witness;
- creating small talk with the witness; and
- teaching the interviewee how the interview will go with actions, not words.
Nonetheless, most investigators dive right into the interview and ignore building rapport. So, right off the bat, they’ve derailed the interview.
Rapport-building is built right into the TapRooT® 12-Step Interviewing Process, and gives an investigator a firm advantage. In fact, three entire steps of the process are devoted to different aspects of building rapport.
Join us for a webinar to learn how to collect better quality and quantity of information from your investigative interviews by building better rapport, as well as how to identify body language cues.
