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If you want to give a good expert interview, you need to know how to communicate well with your subject. If you’ve taken the time to build a relationship with your subject already, this will make communication easier. Here are a few communication tips specifically for conducting interviews.

Easy Questions and Small Talk First

It’s good to open an interview with an introduction and a few basic, easy questions to start with. These should be questions the interviewee is comfortable with and maybe has a prepared answer for already. You’ll get more into the complicated stuff through the course of the interview, but at first, start with simple topics.

Erase the Ums and Uhs

If you’re recording the interview and publishing it in audio or video form, you’ll need to watch out for the “ums” and “uhs.” These filler words and sounds are used in everyday conversation but in a recorded interview they can become terribly annoying. If you haven’t recorded yourself speaking much, do a trial run and listen to your speech mannerisms. Practice your questions until they disappear.

Good Body Language

Use body language that shows that you’re confident and comfortable. If you’re not confident and comfortable, use this body language anyway. Sit straight in your chair and don’t slump. Maintain steady eye contact with your communication subject. Sit with an open rather than a closed posture.

Match Body Language

A good communication skill in any situation is to match body language. If your interview subject crosses their legs, cross your legs as well. Mirroring body language is something many people do naturally already. When you mirror body language, it shows that you’re paying attention to the speaker and establishes good communication.

Active Listening

Listen actively to what the subject is saying and ignore distractions. Don’t think about what you’re going to say next. After the interviewer is done speaking, repeat back to them a summary of your understanding of what they’ve said. This is a great tool for communication because it clarifies that you understood the meaning and also restates the main point for your listeners.

Ask for Clarification, Details and Examples

You’ll create a list of questions for your interview, but you should also ask follow-up questions to their answers that clarify, ask for further details or ask for examples. This shows that you’re listening but also allows you to get more deeply into specific topics that you think your audience would be interested in.

See It as a Conversation

Your interview shouldn’t be an interrogation. Rather, it should be a conversation. Relax and be natural. You don’t have to just ask questions and listen to the interviewee’s answers. Keep it relaxed and conversational, and guide the conversation through your questions.

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