This week’s Sizzling Summer Challenge is to find a person who inspires you, interview them and then post a photo highlighting your interaction. Maybe the person you wish to interview is a relative you don’t see often or a neighbor or someone in your local community whom you want to learn more about. Perhaps he or she has an exquisite summer garden, has overcome a significant obstacle, is well-known for their volunteer services or is someone you admire for the way they live their life. “The world is your oyster.”
As a way of making my oft-long distance drives more enjoyable, I listen to Terry Gross’s program, Fresh Air, on NPR. I love the way in which she d
raws each interviewee’s story out, based on her questions and the research she has prepared beforehand. I confess that if she called me out of the blue and said – would you like to come and help me with these interviews, I would be on the next available plane, pencil and notebook in hand.
During the past school year, Karen Pike (VEHI PATH’s photographer) and I had several opportunities to interview and photograph school employees from around Vermont who were nominated by their colleagues and chosen as our first Thriving Wellness Rock Stars. I interviewed librarians, elementary, middle and high school teachers, literacy specialists, physical educators, administrators, custodians, teacher and principal retirees, para-educators, office personnel and nurses. Their stories, their commitment to wellness and their positivity knocked my socks off.
Of course, I recognize that approaching someone with a request for an interview might feel a bit daunting, especially if this is new territory for you. To make it less so, you might invite the individual for a walk and a talk or for a get together over coffee, tea and biscuits.
Once you have overcome this hurdle, here are some tips for smooth interviewing from a variety of journalists. Make the interviewee feel comfortable. Ask open ended questions, rather than those that can be answered with “yes” or “no”. Focus on reflection questions such as; “What are some of the unexpected challenges or the unexpected benefits” or “Looking back, . . . .” Think about what questions you wish to ask in advance to ensure that you are able to tease out the information that is piquing your curiosity. Make sure to ask about feelings and details.
Keep in mind the interview is a conversation with you. Above all, as the interviewer, focus on listening to how they are responding to your questions without interruption. Don’t overstay your welcome and thank them for their time at the interview’s conclusion.
As a result of this interview, you will probably gain new insights, expand your thinking and potentially weigh the pros and cons about investing in a new activity or behavior. Best of all, according to Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D and author of the book, Love 2.0, when we take the time to make a positive connection with another individual, this connection carries irrepressible ripple effects across whole social networks. Each person who experiences positivity resonance has the ability to grow and in turn touch and uplift the lives of countless others.
Go forth, find a person who inspires you (outside of your immediate family) and share the highlights.
See you on the PATH Ahead,
Shevonne, Gillian, Amy and the VEHI PATH Team.