Final answer:
Using your authority effectively in an interview involves active listening and empathy, as well as maintaining eye contact and reading body language. Preparing a working script that includes both open and closed questions can help guide the interview in a structured yet flexible way.
Step-by-step explanation:
When conducting an interview, you may use your authority effectively by listening actively and showing empathy. This approach encourages a positive and cooperative environment for the interviewee, allowing them to open up and provide candid responses. It's important to create a comfortable setting, which can be achieved by having an informal conversation or a more structured question-and-answer session depending on the context. Using intimidation or refusal to answer any questions will likely result in a lack of trust and poor quality information. Likewise, keeping the conversation strictly formal can sometimes hinder open communication.
Maintaining eye contact, reading body language, and choosing your words carefully are key to a successful interview. Crafting a working script with both open and closed questions while being prepared to take notes and ask follow-up questions is essential. One should avoid leading the interviewee, instead remaining open to their perspective, and focus on solving the problem rather than assigning blame.