About this session
The Interviewer's Chair: Ask the Question Behind the Answer is a 90-minute to half-day questioning skills workshop for anyone who wants to ask sharper follow-up questions and get useful specifics. A journalist leads it, live online or in person.
Participants practice interviews and learn the follow-up techniques journalists use to move from broad answers to concrete detail.
Participants leave with practical follow-up questions for meetings, interviews, research and one-to-ones.
What your people take away
- Practice interviews with a journalist
- Move from broad answers to useful specifics
- Use follow-ups that invite examples and detail
- Listen for what hasn't been said
- Summarize what you heard and what's still missing
Shared with you
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- What each length covers, 90 minutes to half day
- Everything that’s covered, part by part
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What each length covers
90 minutes
Practice the follow-up questionA journalist shows how to move from broad answers to useful specifics, then participants practice in short interviews. Everyone tries follow-ups that draw out examples and detail.
- Practice interviews with a journalist
- Move from broad answers to useful specifics
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Practice interviews with a journalist and Move from broad answers to useful specifics.
Half day
Interview, summarize and applyAdds listening for gaps, longer practice interviews and summarizing what was heard and what's still missing. Participants plan questions for a real conversation at work.
- Practice interviews with a journalist
- Move from broad answers to useful specifics
- Listen for what's missing
- Summarize what you heard
Covers all 4 parts.
What’s covered
Practice interviews with a journalist
Every length- See an interview in actionA journalist interviews a volunteer and shows how follow-up questions open up the conversation.
- Try short practice interviewsParticipants interview each other on a work topic in pairs.
Move from broad answers to useful specifics
Every length- Ask for an exampleParticipants practice turning general answers into specific examples and stories.
- Ask what, how and what happened nextInterviewers use open follow-ups that draw out detail without leading.
- Hold the silenceParticipants practice pausing after an answer so the other person can add more.
Listen for what's missing
Half day only- Notice vague words and gapsInterviewers learn to spot words like 'usually' or 'sometimes' that hide specifics.
- Check your understandingParticipants reflect back what they heard to confirm or correct it.
Summarize what you heard
Half day only- Write a short summaryAfter a longer practice interview, participants summarize key points and what's still unclear.
- Plan a real conversationEach person prepares follow-up questions for an upcoming conversation at work.
Tools and materials
- Follow-up question card
- Practice interview topics
- Listening notes sheet
- Summary template
- Real conversation planner
Who it’s for
- Managers holding one-to-ones and reviews
- Hiring managers and recruiters
- Researchers, analysts and consultants
- Customer-facing and sales teams
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later. Need it sooner? Email hello@workbliss.ai and we’ll see what we can do.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about The Interviewer's Chair: Ask the Question Behind the Answer
How long is The Interviewer's Chair: Ask the Question Behind the Answer?
The Interviewer's Chair: Ask the Question Behind the Answer runs as 90 minutes or half day. You choose the length when you book. A 90-minute session covers Practice interviews with a journalist and Move from broad answers to useful specifics. A half-day session adds Listen for what's missing and Summarize what you heard.
Can The Interviewer's Chair: Ask the Question Behind the Answer be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book The Interviewer's Chair: Ask the Question Behind the Answer?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open The Interviewer's Chair: Ask the Question Behind the Answer to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later. Need it sooner? Email hello@workbliss.ai and we’ll see what we can do.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.