Episode 46 | Interviewing Q&A | What To Do When Your Interviewee Gets Cold Feet

What do you do when an interviewee (sometimes a central interviewee!) suddenly gets nervous and gets cold feet about the interview? How do you navigate the emotional intricacies that are involved in getting someone to feel comfortable and safe doing an interview with you?

In this episode, I talk about some techniques that I used to talk down my interviewees and restore their confidence in the process when they get nervous about the interview. I talk about how to:

1. Identify the concerns


2. Normalize and legitimize the concerns


3. Increase and reaffirm their agency


4. Tighten up the container


5. Actually fulfill on your commitments

These items have helped me to calm and reconnect with multiple interviewees and get them back on track for doing a powerful and comfortable interview with me.