Interview Guide
Open prompts for one-to-one conversations
- PhaseUnderstand
- Group2 to 3 people
- Time45 minutes
- SettingRoom or remote
- ExecutivesYes
What it is
An interview guide is a short prompt sheet for one-to-one conversations. It starts with open questions about the last time someone did the work, so that people describe what happened instead of giving opinions.
When to use it
When you need depth from one person, or when a topic is too sensitive for a group, such as job impact.
When to skip it
When you need a fast read across many people. Use Write, Pair, Share.
How to run it
- 5 minExplain why you are talking to them and what happens to the notes. Agree what stays confidential.
- 10 minAsk about the work today, starting with the last time they did it.
- 15 minAsk about workarounds, errors and what they check twice.
- 10 minAsk about AI: what they use, what they hope for and what worries them.
- 5 minClose: who else should you talk to, and what did you not ask?
About 45 minutes of method time. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
What to watch for
Asking leading questions. Talking more than the person. Promising confidentiality you cannot keep.
The AI lens
Ask what they would need to see before they trusted an AI solution to do part of this work. The answer is the design brief for oversight.
What you leave with
Notes in the person’s own words, with two or three quotes worth keeping.
An example
Interviewing a frontline supervisor about last month's escalations goes better if you ask her to walk through the most recent case than if you ask whether she would like an AI assistant.
How it compares
Interviews give depth from one person. Write, Pair, Share and Pains and Gains give breadth from a whole group in less time.
Related methods
Questions
What is Interview Guide?
An interview guide is a short prompt sheet for one-to-one conversations. It starts with open questions about the last time someone did the work, so that people describe what happened instead of giving opinions.
When should I use Interview Guide?
When you need depth from one person, or when a topic is too sensitive for a group, such as job impact.
How long does Interview Guide take and how many people do I need?
Interview Guide takes about 45 minutes and suits 2 to 3 people, plus a facilitator. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
How is Interview Guide different from other methods?
Interviews give depth from one person. Write, Pair, Share and Pains and Gains give breadth from a whole group in less time.
Can I run Interview Guide remotely or with executives?
Yes. Interview Guide works in the room or remotely. Remotely, put the canvas on a shared board in advance and write silently in the board, not in chat. Executives: Yes, works with executives present.