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Interviewing with "The Sawatsky Method"

Merlin Mann | Aug 17 2006

I enjoyed this recent ATC story about the interview skills guru, John Sawatsky. “The Sawatsky Method” contrasts sharply with the confrontational attack dog methods most of us associate with people like Mike Wallace:

Sawatsky’s rules are simple, but he says they get broken all the time: Don’t ask yes-or-no questions, keep questions short and avoid charged words, which can distract people. In his seminar, Sawatsky points to Mike Wallace of CBS’ 60 Minutes and CNN’s Larry King as examples to avoid. In Sawatsky’s illustrative clips, King favors leading questions that generate curt answers, while Wallace’s rapid patter fails to get a subject to speak candidly.

More on Sawatsky here and here, including this gem:

The best questions, argues Sawatsky, are like clean windows. “A clean window gives a perfect view. When we ask a question, we want to get a window into the source. When you put values in your questions, it’s like putting dirt on the window. It obscures the view of the lake beyond. People shouldn’t notice the question in an interview, just like they shouldn’t notice the window. They should be looking at the lake.”

Even for non-journalists, if you need to conduct the occasional interview, Sawatsky’s got some golden tips.


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TOPICS: Interviews, Links, Off Topic, Personal Productivity, Processes, Tips

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rsart - the online portfolio of Rick Stirling, games artist's picture

[...] Interviewing with “The Sawatsky...

Submitted by rsart - the online portfolio of Rick Stirling, games artist (not verified) on August 17, 2006 - 9:24pm.

[…] Interviewing with “The Sawatsky Method” | 43 Folders (tags: Interviewing Sawatsky Method) […]

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Poor Richard's Anorak's picture

Links | 43 Folders: The...

Submitted by Poor Richard's Anorak (not verified) on August 17, 2006 - 10:50am.

Links | 43 Folders: The Sawatsky Method…

Link: Links | 43 Folders….

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“I’m just happy to be here. Hope I can help the's picture

[...] Merlin Mann brings us...

Submitted by “I’m just happy to be here. Hope I can help the (not verified) on August 17, 2006 - 8:02am.

[…] Merlin Mann brings us some links related to John Sawatsky’s interviewing coaching over at ESPN. I haven’t listened to the NPR interview yet, but the related article links to one of my favorite scenes that I occasionally find myself using when I need to be polite but unhelpful: Kevin Costner teaching Tim Robbins how to be interviews (real media) […]

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North Farnham Freeholder » Blog Archive » The Sa's picture

[...] 43 folders led me...

Submitted by North Farnham Freeholder » Blog Archive » The Sa (not verified) on August 17, 2006 - 6:02am.

[…] 43 folders led me to an interesting article on a jounalism professor helping ESPN ask better questions in their interviews. While I am not a journalist, the article was interesting to me because I teach adult learners in an industrial training program using facilitative techniques — I guide the lesson by asking questions of my students. by Mike @ 12:02 pm. Filed under media/news, articles, education / training   [link] […]

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» Interviewing, the Sawatsky way (I Love Radio .org)'s picture

[...] Via Merlin Mann’s excellent 43...

Submitted by » Interviewing, the Sawatsky way (I Love Radio .org) (not verified) on August 17, 2006 - 5:31am.

[…] Via Merlin Mann’s excellent 43 Folders, a story about “The Sawatsky Method” of interviewing from NPR’s All Things Considered. […]

»
» Interviewing, the Sawatsky way (I Love Radio .org)'s picture

[...] Via Merlin Mann’s excellent 43...

Submitted by » Interviewing, the Sawatsky way (I Love Radio .org) (not verified) on August 17, 2006 - 5:29am.

[…] Via Merlin Mann’s excellent 43 Folders, a story about “The Sawatsky Method” of interviewing from NPR’s All Things Considered. […]

»
emac3326 » Blog Archive » Interviewing's picture

[...] 43 Folder on The...

Submitted by emac3326 » Blog Archive » Interviewing (not verified) on August 22, 2006 - 4:09am.

[…] 43 Folder on The Sawatsky Method (Other links can be found via this blurb.) […]

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Speaker City » links for 2006-08-18's picture

[...] Interviewing with “The Sawatsky...

Submitted by Speaker City » links for 2006-08-18 (not verified) on August 18, 2006 - 9:35am.

[…] Interviewing with “The Sawatsky Method” | 43 Folders How to ask better questions (tags: questions) […]

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About Merlin Mann

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Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written recently is a short essay called, “Better.”

  
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