The #1 question about conducting interviews is how to construct questions that open conversations to get more from the guest. Here’s a head start. Use these 10 can’t-miss interview questions. Some can also be adapted for discussions with cohosts and talking with phone callers.
These questions aren’t conversation starters. There are hundreds of other questions for that. And the 10 can’t-miss interview questions don’t help personalities learn how to ask questions. There are other guidelines for that.
Each question checks all boxes for what makes a great interview question. They’re simple, yet designed to reveal layers of the guest’s personality. And they demonstrate that the show host is curious and interested.
Imagine this scenario. You’re interviewing a band about a new album. The guest says,
I’m working things out on this album to find some inner peace. Instead of trying to make music that critics love, these songs are for me. They’re personal.
The Can’t-Miss Questions
With that in mind, here are 10 can’t-miss interview questions, including examples of how they might be used.
What’s An Example Of That? Many guests give standard answers to standard questions. They’ve learned to deflect the question with a canned answer.
When a band member says, “These songs are personal”, it sounds like a rehearsed, ordinary response. But it’s also an invitation to dig for more.
At this point, many interviewers would switch to another question or ask if they are afraid the album won’t be as successful.
A better follow-up is simply:
What’s an example of that?
How Did You Deal With That? Everyone’s story includes a struggle. It’s common for a guest to acknowledge a personal struggle, but it is hard to extract the story.
This question does that.
The band’s answer suggests they had been creating music they didn’t love and are doing it for someone else. Pick up that detail and ask:
It must be a horrible feeling to create art that you didn’t feel strongly about. How did you deal with that?
This question is straightforward and demonstrates that the interviewer is engaged in the conversation.
What Were The Options? This question can be used in many situations. Instead of picking up on the struggle, focus on a dilemma faced by the guest.
Use the technique of mirroring a comment to set up the next question, then ask it.
So the last album was just trying to satisfy other people. At the time, what were your options?
This question takes the guest into a story that goes back in time (nostalgia) and could be a story that’s never been told. They certainly wouldn’t have talked about it then, and few would ask as the new album is released.
What Was The Turning Point? Every interview is a story told by the interviewer through the guest. Every good story includes conflict, and with that comes a decision point. This leads to insight.
Use the labeling technique of interviewing, then ask about the turning point.
For example:
It seems that changing your formula for turning out music is scary. What was the turning point for you?
In What Way? Don’t be afraid to ask innocent questions that require the guest to elaborate or clarify an answer.
This may seem awkward because people think of it as confrontational. If it’s a problem, defer the anxiety to another source. Oprah does a great job of this. In her interview with Megan Markle, she assigned provocative questions to another source (the tabloids). That was a brilliant move.
For example, here’s a follow-up question about the new songs being deeply personal:
Explain that to someone who may be listening that is going through the same thing you did. In what way are these songs personal to you?
How Would You Characterize That? Ask the guest to label their feelings. This shines a light on their emotions and gets into their psyche. In this case, use a question to start a discussion about the music industry.
The question might be:
Critics and the music industry can be powerful influences. That has to be hard. How would you characterize the pressure they put on you?
What Makes You Say That? For the most part, personalities should avoid questions that start with “why” or “when”. They tend to be challenging questions that put guests on the defensive.
But it’s easy to rephrase these questions.
In our example, the simplest question of all might be:
Why did you feel that the songs had to be personal?
But this approach has an edge. Even if it’s not intended, it comes off as disagreeable or challenging. Instead, change the language to a “what” or “how” question.
How is this song (give the title) personal to you?
or
What is it about the songs that make you say that?
What Is It Like? The most powerful invitation in the world is an invitation to tell a story. This question opens that possibility. Simply asking:
So many people would love to be in your position. What is it like to be at a point in your career to do what you have always wanted?
Asking this question may inspire a short response, such as, “I’ve never been happier. I’m free and so proud of the new album.”
This, of course, opens up some of the other questions again, like,
What’s an example of that?
What Do You Mean? This is another way to ask for details. Anytime a guest opens a storyline, ask:
What do you mean by that?
This is an appropriate question that will encourage them to continue.
When using this can’t-miss interview question, observe the Silence Gap. That’s the technique of pausing a beat to let them gather their thoughts. Don’t jump in quickly. It’s likely to interrupt a great moment!
What Happened Next? This question works almost every time. It’s a powerful way to draw more from a guest.
If chasing the “inner peace” comment, it may take a series of questions to get deeper. For example, start by mirroring the phrase. Then ask another of the 10 can’t-miss interview questions, like, “You’re searching for inner peace. How did you deal with that struggle?”.
Following their answer, push the story forward with,
What happened next?
Conclusion
Interviews don’t seem so hard to conduct with these guidelines, do they? It’s a matter of paying attention, listening, responding, and drawing on simple questions to move a story forward.
Practice these questions and techniques by finding a good opening question, then exploring the details in responses.
Pic designed by zamrznutitonovi for Envato Elements.
Tracy Johnson is a talent coach and programming consultant. He’s the President/CEO of Tracy Johnson Media Group. His book Morning Radio has been described as The Bible of Personality Radio and has been used by personalities worldwide.