A Great Interview Technique.

You have your interview guest primed and ready. Research complete, facts at hand and questions sorted.

One thing to remember - YOU are in charge.

Yes, the guest is the star...he/she is the reason for the piece. Without them, it's just you talking to yourself.

As the person in charge, YOU set the tone. 

Here's a great thing to know - the guest will mirror you.

If you are quiet, they will be quiet. If you are loud and funny, they will try to be loud and funny.

Why?

It comes down to mirroring. 

We mirror people to establish rapport...to sound/look the same. People relate better to people who look/sound similar to them.

The reason for this goes back to cave times. There you are, sitting in your cave when along comes a 'stranger'. They look, walk and speak in a different way to you. They are a threat. Will he/she steal your food, take your tools, attack you and take over your cave? You don't know. Suspicion exists between the two of you.

So when you set the tone of the interview...you are in charge. The interviewee mirrors you to gain your favour.  They want YOUR trust.

When you are soft-spoken and quiet, your guest will replicate that style. When you are funny and mischievous, your guest will try and match that.

Be confident in your tone and your interview will roll the way YOU want it to.

Yes, your guest is the star but you orchestrate how the interview develops.