I have been conducting interviews professionally for almost 50 years as a consultant, manager, and police investigator. As a young investigator I learned mostly by trial and error in thousands of interviews. As a manager and a consultant, I found myself charged with challenging interviews and interviewees inside and outside my organization.

To meet these challenges, I sought out solutions with brain science, psychology and negotiation.

Through all of this I discovered that a few key shifts in mindset, approach, skills, and strategies could help me navigate the most challenging and complex interviews.

For over 30 years, every time I have worked with auditors and investigators around the world, I learn how to get even better results.

I became an investigator almost 20 years ago. I knew nothing about questioning or interrogations, but I knew I loved talking to people and getting to know them. However, my interlocutors did not always want to talk to me. They were afraid what they would tell me would get them in trouble or get friends and colleagues in trouble. I needed to gain their confidence. I needed to show them I was not there to judge or threaten. I only wanted to understand them, to understand a situation, to see their point of view. Maybe to help them choose a better path.

Then I attended a workshop (very much like this one) with Frank Byrnes of HPCI. He had dealt with the same issues that I was facing. I learned a lot of practical tips and techniques-based on how peoples’ brains work during the interview. It really worked! (And it also helped me improve my memory and note-taking.)

I continued to hone these skills in interviews with the most difficult and defensive people you could imagine and later in audits I conducted as an executive director.

I am excited to share that expertise with you today.