The Art of the Interview: How Interviewing Multiple Employees with the Same Questions Can Build Collegiality.
David Chiverton
Video Director, Producer & Interviewer. Creating branded, corporate & experiential video content. London//Reading//Bournemouth ?? Co-Founder of WinkCloud.io
Creating a sense of unity and collegiality in corporate videos is crucial for showcasing a cohesive company culture. One effective technique is to interview multiple employees using the same set of questions. This approach can weave a common thread through the narrative, highlighting shared values and fostering a sense of togetherness. Here’s how this technique can build collegiality in your films.
Showcasing Diverse Perspectives on Common Themes
By asking the same questions to multiple employees, I can capture a range of perspectives on common themes. This diversity of viewpoints can illustrate the collaborative nature of the workplace, showing how different team members contribute to the same goals. It highlights the unity in diversity, emphasising that everyone, regardless of their role, is working towards a common purpose.
Highlighting Shared Values and Goals
Consistent questions can reveal shared values and goals among employees. When multiple people discuss their passion for the company’s mission or their commitment to customer satisfaction, it reinforces the collective ethos. This repetition helps to underscore the core values that bind the team together, creating a powerful, unified message.
Creating a Cohesive Narrative
Using the same set of questions can help create a cohesive narrative that ties the video together. As different employees answer the same questions, their responses can be interwoven to form a seamless story. This technique can build a strong narrative arc that emphasises the company’s culture, values, and collective identity.
Building a Sense of Community
When employees see themselves and their colleagues sharing similar thoughts and experiences on film, it can foster a sense of community and belonging. This visual representation of unity can boost morale and reinforce the idea that everyone is part of a larger team. It’s a subtle but effective way of strengthening internal bonds.
Enhancing Relatability and Engagement
Viewers, whether internal staff or external audiences, find it easier to relate to a video that features multiple voices echoing similar sentiments. It adds a layer of authenticity and relatability, making the content more engaging. Seeing diversity united by common experiences and perspectives can be inspiring and uplifting.
Simplifying the Production Process
From a production standpoint, using the same set of questions can streamline the interview process. It simplifies planning and ensures consistency in the footage, making it easier to edit and assemble the final video. This efficiency can save time and resources, allowing me to focus on crafting a compelling story.
Tips for Effective Implementation
Select Varied Interviewees: I encourage my clients to choose employees from different departments and levels within the company to capture a broad spectrum of experiences and perspectives.
Craft Thoughtful Questions: I work with my clients to design questions that are open-ended and thought-provoking, encouraging detailed and reflective answers.
Balance Consistency with Flexibility: While consistency is key, I like to be flexible enough to follow interesting tangents that may arise during interviews.
The Edit: In post-production, I carefully interweave responses to build a coherent and compelling narrative that highlights both individual voices and the collective spirit.
By interviewing multiple employees with the same questions, we can create a rich, multi-faceted narrative that showcases the unity and collegiality within your organisation. This technique not only strengthens the storytelling but also reinforces the sense of community among employees, making your corporate videos more impactful and resonant.