Do These Five Things in Your Next Investigation Interview

Who wants to know how to get better quality and quantity of information from interviews? Everyone! That’s a question I get over and over again. Information we collect from interviews is important to finding out what happened during an investigation. So, here are five things to do in your next investigation interview.
1. Empathy – Not Interrogation
In a workplace incident, the goal is not to play cop, but to understand what happened. Begin with casual conversation that is not related to the incident to build rapport. Let the worker know you are there to learn, not assign blame. Building rapport makes them feel comfortable and will encourage them to be more open.
2. Ask Open-Ended Questions
Asking yes/no questions leads to yes/no answers. I like to start sentences with these words: tell, explain, or describe. Try prompts like:
- Tell me what you know about the incident.
- Explain anything that made the decision seem right at the time.
- Describe what you expected to happen at that point.
Open-ended questions invite more information.
3. Listen
Being a great interviewer is not about thinking of amazing questions. It’s more about being a good listener. Once you ask an open-ended question, don’t interrupt. Allow the interviewee to give as much information as possible.
4. Clarify, Don’t Assume
If something doesn’t make sense, ask. Don’t fill in the blanks with your own assumptions. People don’t always explain things the way we expect, especially under pressure. Repeat back what you think you heard and ask them to confirm or correct it.
5. Look for System Factors, Not Just Individual Actions
Sure, someone flipped the wrong switch. But why was it easy to flip? Was the labeling unclear? Was training missing? Was fatigue a factor? Use your interview to zoom out. Focus on how the system allowed the error to happen, not just who did what.
Learn more about how to elevate your investigations!
The best course options for learning more about collecting better information are:
5-Day TapRooT® Advanced Root Cause Analysis Team Leader Training
Whether you’re dealing with equipment failures, human error, or organizational issues, this course gives you the skills to identify real root causes, not just symptoms. You’ll also learn advanced interviewing techniques, information collection strategies, and human performance improvement tools that help prevent future incidents, not just react to them.
View the upcoming course schedule.
Effective Interviewing and Evidence Collection
Rooted in the proven TapRooT® System and aligned with ASTM International Standards, this hands-on training teaches you how to confidently prepare, document, and execute an investigation from start to finish. You’ll learn how to use SnapCharT® as a planning tool, manage scenes effectively, collect and label evidence properly, and conduct interviews using the TapRooT® 12-Step Process.