The Socratic Interview
This exercise can be done with a colleague, family member, partner, friend, or even with a stranger (for example, on a train). It is highly effective in conflictual or complex situations, including complicated relational dynamics or those between a parent and adolescent, teacher and student, etc.
For business purposes, it functions as an information source and as a way to strengthen collegial relationships: you are not trying to convince the other person but focus on their reasoning. This might mean that one or both of you, through the conscious art of listening, change your perspectives, but that it not the goal. The goal is to understand the way of thinking. You need a quiet environment and should take uninterrupted time, about 40 minutes. You can take notes, but it is better to remember everything.
The Interview:
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Asking the Question: You ask one question; it can be any question, profound or simple, as long as it is not a factual question. So, not: What is the temperature outside? What are your children's names? What is a gasoline engine?
Appropriate questions could be:
- What is good collaboration?
- What are your feelings about this project?
- What makes you happy?
- What is your opinion on topic X?
- What is good, according to you?
- What is a good relationship?
- What is a human, according to you?
- How do you want to live?
- Etc.
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Listening and Repeating: The interviewee gets time to think and respond. You then repeat their answer as accurately as possible and ask if you have understood it correctly. If the interviewee indicates that you have not, ask them to repeat their answer. Then, repeat it back and check again if you have captured it correctly. If yes, then ask, "Can you elaborate further?" (without giving any opinion, positive or negative, showing neither encouragement nor disapproval).
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Further Elaboration: After the person elaborates, repeat the answer again. If you have done this correctly, ask for further elaboration. This process can be repeated as often as both can manage and as time permits.
The interviewer should never give their own opinions or reactions; they should focus entirely on the reasoning of the interviewee. Ideally, the interviewer will not develop their own thoughts during this listening exercise. This can be a moment of enlightenment: being freed from one's own addictive thoughts. The interviewee receives their arguments through the voice of another, which is a different form of reflection. It is also immensely gratifying to have someone listen to you so attentively.