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Interviewing with "The Sawatsky Method"

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

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

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

[…] 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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[...] 43 folders led me...

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

[…] 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...

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

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

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

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

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

About Merlin Mann

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Bio

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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The original 43 Folders series looking at the skills, tools, and attitude needed to empty your email inbox — and then keep it that way. Don’t miss the free video of Merlin’s Inbox Zero presentation.

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