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10 Investigator Interview Techniques that Build Rapport
THE INTERMOUNTAIN PI | EP 6 | NOV 6, 2018
10 investigator interview techniques that build rapport is an article I wrote in 2010. It was printed in PInow.com. I recently learned that my article will be included in Dr. Charles Nemeth’s upcoming book, the 4th edition of Private Security and the Investigative Process. If you conduct interviews as a private investigator you will find this article helpful.
One of the most useful skills a private investigator can possess is the ability to quickly build rapport. This can be accomplished with individuals from all walks of life. Are you interviewing a witness or a source? Maybe the interview is confrontational? Either way, your ability to gather information rests on the degree to which you can build rapport. To do so, you must quickly find something that you and the subject have in common. Such commonalities create a connection or bond of understanding. All of us want to be liked and appreciated. We all want to be helpful. When building rapport, it is wise to remember author and motivational speaker John C. Maxwells famous quote: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
It certainly goes without saying that you must be absolutely genuine in your approach. If you attempt to build rapport in a fake or phony manner most individuals will see right through you. They will reject your attempts at building rapport. Among some people, private investigators already have a general reputation as seedy, snake oil salesmen. There’s no need to foster that image.
“Building rapport is critical when it comes to getting information from a subject.”
The whole point of building rapport with an individual is to get information from them that they would normally not volunteer. To that end, the following 10 techniques can be utilized to build rapport with just about anyone:
1. BE PREPARED It’s the motto of the Boy Scouts but it will serve you well in all endeavors; especially in building rapport. I cannot stress this enough: Do your homework. Just as a lawyer never asks a question in court that he doesn’t already know the answer to, likewise, a good investigator is prepared ahead of time. This is especially important if the interview becomes confrontational. Gather as much information as you can before the interview. The more information you have about the subject the easier it will be to build rapport.
2. TAKE YOUR SEAT (IN THE POSITION OF POWER) To build rapport and preserve the upper hand in an interview you will want to sit in the position of power. You should arrive early to all interviews. If you are conducting the interview at someones home or in a conference room, position yourself so that you sit at the head of the table. This is the position usually reserved for the head of the household or head of the company. Point to the chair to your right and suggest that the person you are interviewing sit there. They will then view you as an authority figure and see themselves as your assistant.
3. BODY MIRRORING One of the most powerful, non-verbal methods of building rapport is by mirroring someones body language. To the uninitiated this may sound ridiculous. However, it is an excellent way to build rapport. When you mirror the subjects body movements and the speed and timbre of their speech patterns, you become like them. But don’t be too obvious. Your movements must be fluid and natural. Remember: We are most comfortable around people who are like us.
4. WHAT’S IN A NAME? As Juliet stated in Shakespeare’s immortal play Romeo and Juliet, “That which we call a rose,
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THE INTERMOUNTAIN PI | EP 6 | NOV 6, 2018
10 investigator interview techniques that build rapport is an article I wrote in 2010. It was printed in PInow.com. I recently learned that my article will be included in Dr. Charles Nemeth’s upcoming book, the 4th edition of Private Security and the Investigative Process. If you conduct interviews as a private investigator you will find this article helpful.
One of the most useful skills a private investigator can possess is the ability to quickly build rapport. This can be accomplished with individuals from all walks of life. Are you interviewing a witness or a source? Maybe the interview is confrontational? Either way, your ability to gather information rests on the degree to which you can build rapport. To do so, you must quickly find something that you and the subject have in common. Such commonalities create a connection or bond of understanding. All of us want to be liked and appreciated. We all want to be helpful. When building rapport, it is wise to remember author and motivational speaker John C. Maxwells famous quote: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
It certainly goes without saying that you must be absolutely genuine in your approach. If you attempt to build rapport in a fake or phony manner most individuals will see right through you. They will reject your attempts at building rapport. Among some people, private investigators already have a general reputation as seedy, snake oil salesmen. There’s no need to foster that image.
“Building rapport is critical when it comes to getting information from a subject.”
The whole point of building rapport with an individual is to get information from them that they would normally not volunteer. To that end, the following 10 techniques can be utilized to build rapport with just about anyone:
1. BE PREPARED It’s the motto of the Boy Scouts but it will serve you well in all endeavors; especially in building rapport. I cannot stress this enough: Do your homework. Just as a lawyer never asks a question in court that he doesn’t already know the answer to, likewise, a good investigator is prepared ahead of time. This is especially important if the interview becomes confrontational. Gather as much information as you can before the interview. The more information you have about the subject the easier it will be to build rapport.
2. TAKE YOUR SEAT (IN THE POSITION OF POWER) To build rapport and preserve the upper hand in an interview you will want to sit in the position of power. You should arrive early to all interviews. If you are conducting the interview at someones home or in a conference room, position yourself so that you sit at the head of the table. This is the position usually reserved for the head of the household or head of the company. Point to the chair to your right and suggest that the person you are interviewing sit there. They will then view you as an authority figure and see themselves as your assistant.
3. BODY MIRRORING One of the most powerful, non-verbal methods of building rapport is by mirroring someones body language. To the uninitiated this may sound ridiculous. However, it is an excellent way to build rapport. When you mirror the subjects body movements and the speed and timbre of their speech patterns, you become like them. But don’t be too obvious. Your movements must be fluid and natural. Remember: We are most comfortable around people who are like us.
4. WHAT’S IN A NAME? As Juliet stated in Shakespeare’s immortal play Romeo and Juliet, “That which we call a rose,