— Mar 25, 2024
A psychology-informed mindset
As an investigator, the way you mentally approach an investigative interview is quite important. One consideration for your mindset should include the psychology-informed mindset.
Interviews
— Feb 27, 2024
The Contamination Error
Have you ever considered the importance of withholding evidence during your investigative interview?
— Jan 30, 2024
Consistency vs rigidity
Remember, any interview is a conversational interaction with another person and should be fluid. Having a plan and preparing that plan are essential elements, but rather than being so rigid in your preparation that you feel the need to stick to the plan, allow your interviewee the opportunity to dictate the flow of the conversation.
— Nov 27, 2023
Advantages to remote interviews
During the busy holiday season, many organisations utilise telephone or video conference interviews to address their investigative caseload.
— Sep 26, 2023
Managing difficult conversations
Difficult conversations are definitely not on the list of the most enjoyable tasks to do at work. But one thing to keep in mind is that the way you manage those difficult conversations are critical to your success and the perception of your employees. There are a couple things to consider when it comes to difficult conversations.
— Aug 29, 2023
Best approach for complainant and witness interviews
Some of the most difficult investigations to conduct are the ‘he-said, she-said’ types of allegations where there is no evidence to support either side of the story.
— Jun 27, 2023
Risk Ahoy!
From Office Supplies to Risk Management of Global Transport, Ann-Marie Martin Takes the European Helm on a New Voyage of Discovery
— Jun 26, 2023
Lessons learnt from false confessions
It's important to remember that during the investigative interview process you must never make any threats or promises. You don’t negotiate, offer leniency or minimize their actions to the point they don’t take responsibility.
— May 31, 2023
Selecting the best approach
When preparing for an investigative interview there are many factors that one should consider. What questions would be relevant during the interview? Most importantly, what approach and method should you utilize?
— Apr 26, 2023
Developing details during the interview
During the course of any investigative interview the interviewer must focus on developing as much detail as possible. Whether you are interviewing a complainant, witness or suspect, taking the initial piece of disclosure to another level becomes an important part of the process.
— Feb 28, 2023
The importance of the 'Six Ps'
There are many things to consider when it comes to planning and preparing for an investigative interview. While working through the process of planning and preparation you should consider some key points.
— Jan 26, 2023
Which question is the best question?
When strategizing the interview, take the time to determine what information would be valuable to your investigation and what’s the best way to obtain this information. Too often when working with groups on the planning stage and mapping out relevant questions, the questions are focused on specific bits of information; they are closed-ended questions.
— Nov 29, 2022
Obtaining implications on others
One of the most challenging aspects of the development phase is developing implications on other people as co-conspirators.
— Oct 25, 2022
Fact gathering interview process
A fact gathering interview is extremely important for any investigation. But fact gathering interviews should not be as simple as, “let’s go talk to him”. They need to be strategically planned. You should always conduct a thorough investigation to identify what pieces of information you need to fill during the interview process.
— Sep 21, 2022
Strategizing the interview
Preparation for any interview is essential. Whether you are interviewing a complainant, a victim, a witness or a suspect there are a number of items that you should prepare for the interview process.
— Aug 30, 2022
Risks of leaving your subject to sit alone
There are many seasoned investigators who prefer to leave their subject sitting alone in the interview room to think about what they have done, but there are risks associated with this strategy.
— May 31, 2022
Do suspects have an interview plan?
Have you ever considered the most likely strategies a guilty subject may employ during the interview process?
— Apr 27, 2022
Have proper perspective
By putting yourself in somebody else’s shoes and changing your perspective you can imagine why they felt a certain way, or why they did something they wouldn’t normally do and that may help you better understand their thought process and reasoning. This approach is especially beneficial for interviewers.
— Mar 31, 2022
Obtaining a voluntary statement
At the conclusion of your subject interview it is always recommended to obtain a recap of the conversation from your subject; a voluntary written statement.
— Feb 24, 2022
How to identify the most appropriate empathetic approach
The selection of the correct empathy statement can sometimes be the most difficult part of your interview strategy.
— Nov 25, 2021
What type of denial is it?
Your subject can offer a verbalized denial in one of two ways; emphatic or with explanation, and there are some basic rules you should follow when dealing with either form of denial coming from the responsible party.
— Sep 27, 2021
How to identify the best rationalisation
The selection of the correct rationalisation, or empathetic story, can sometimes be the hardest part of developing your interview strategy.
— Aug 28, 2021
Using 'educated' guesses to develop information
During your subject interview, you will often find yourself developing information that carries you well beyond the scope of the initial investigation.
— Jul 26, 2021
Let's avoid the argument
One aspect of the investigative interview that you must remember is to avoid arguing with your subject.
— Jun 22, 2021
To show or not to show. That is the question...
Have you ever considered the importance and value of not revealing evidence to your subject during your investigative interview? By not revealing your evidence, it provides several advantages during the conversation.
— May 24, 2021
The ideal written statement from your subject
At the conclusion of any investigative interview it is always recommended to get your subject to provide a recap of the conversation; a voluntary written statement.
— Apr 26, 2021
Educated guesses can develop information
During the truth seeking interview, you will often find yourself developing information beyond the scope of the initial investigation. In many instances, the investigation may only reveal the tip of the iceberg.
— Mar 29, 2021
Leverage the Strength of Your Loss Prevention Journey
As a teenager, I looked at being an oceanographer or marine biologist. There are definitely many degrees of separation from my initial interests to my expansive career in loss prevention and asset protection.
— Mar 26, 2021
Change whose perspective?
Psychology suggests that when an individual says something out loud, they are more likely to defend or commit to it. For this reason, the change of perspective becomes an important element to truth verification during the subject interview.
— Dec 17, 2020
Taking notes during an interview
Documenting what is said and occurs during an interview is extremely important, but balancing the conversation and note taking can be a difficult task.
— Dec 8, 2020
Dispensing the right risk medicine
Boots’ Iona Blake Navigates the Unchartered Waters of Crime in a COVID World
— Nov 26, 2020
Interviewer mistakes
Have you ever reflected on your own interview approach and style and examined specific areas of improvement?
— Oct 29, 2020
Silence during an interview
It is believed that using the all-knowing silent look is a great way to get an admission. More importantly, it is a very risky tactic.
— Sep 30, 2020
The ideal written statement
At the conclusion of any investigative interview it is always recommended to get your subject to provide a recap of the conversation; a written statement.
— Aug 26, 2020
The proper structure to your rationalisation
The rationalisation is used to help show understanding to your subject and promote cooperation during the interview. Once you’ve completed the difficult task of selecting an appropriate story to use for your rationalisation, you have to make sure you structure it properly.
— Jul 30, 2020
Evaluate and challenge your evidence
When the time comes to discuss some wrongdoing based off evidence, it’s your duty to ensure you have conducted a thorough investigation before the interview.
— Jun 29, 2020
True Grit
Tesco’s Security Head Emma Swail on Northern Ireland, the home of ambition, and turning adversity into advancement
— Jun 29, 2020
A Walk on the Wild Side
Ian Pogue’s risk journey from high street fashion to exotic wildlife
— Jun 27, 2020
Every word matters
During an investigative interview, you want to avoid any harsh descriptive words that can induce unnecessary amounts of fear or concern in the person you’re interviewing.
— May 23, 2020
Lay the groundwork
Many of you are working from home, following Government recommendations and social distancing guidelines. If you need to conduct an interview over the phone, one thing that you should do when you initiate the call is remind your subject of those practices and the fact that you would prefer to be sitting face-to-face to get to know them and have a more personal connection.
— Apr 28, 2020
Distance interview considerations
There are several things to take into consideration when you execute a phone or video interview versus face to face.
— Mar 28, 2020
There are some advantages to distance interviews
Many organisations utilise telephone interviews to address their investigative caseload. While many of you may suddenly be forced to address an integrity issue from afar, don’t focus on the obvious, “but I can’t see them”.
— Feb 26, 2020
Developing information on other offenders
Developing accurate information and details beyond the scope of your investigation from your subject is always a challenging task. One of the most challenging aspects of the development phase is developing information on other people in the workplace as co-conspirators.
— Jan 29, 2020
Hold those facts tightly
Strategically there are many reasons why you may want to withhold details or evidence from your suspect during the interview process.
— Dec 16, 2019
Building rapport can be easy if you try
One of the ways you build rapport while conducting interviews is quite easy: by asking a simple question.
— Dec 2, 2019
Rationalising is not minimising
An important principle of rationalising during an interview is that rationalisation does not remove moral responsibility or suggest any signs of leniency towards your subject.
— Oct 28, 2019
Distance interviews do work
The busy fourth quarter may pull all of you in many directions. If your company allows, the telephone could be an investigator’s closest companion during this hectic time.
— Sep 30, 2019
The most important fact gathering question
What’s really important when it comes to fact gathering interviews is an understanding of question formulation.
— Aug 26, 2019
How do I get that written statement?
When it comes to obtaining an accurate written statement, there’s an important item to consider to maintain the value of that written document.
— Jul 25, 2019
A matter of rapport
Rapport is creating a relationship in a very short period of time and encourages your subject to open up.
— May 20, 2019
What is the participatory method?
Too often, investigators go into a fact-gathering interview with the mindset of “Let’s see if he did it,” or “Let’s see if he knows anything about it,” or “Let’s see what we can find out.”
— Apr 30, 2019
The WZ Method In A Nutshell
The Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ) Method of interview techniques is a non-confrontational interview process that allows the interviewer to build credibility through a brief introductory statement and then show understanding through rationalising.
— Mar 26, 2019
You can say no without saying no
One thing that’s really important when it comes to handling requests—a drink of water, use of the restroom, a telephone call, things of that nature—is that you should not say no.
— Feb 28, 2019
Collaboration is Key
As an experienced investigator and interviewer, we encourage you to collaborate with business partners who are tasked to address some of the most difficult investigations.
— Jan 31, 2019
Eyes don't mean lies
During WZ EU training courses we often get people who will ask, “Hey is it true that if the subject’s eyes go up and to the left, that means they’re telling the truth, and if they go to the right, they have to be lying?” Unfortunately, that’s how Hollywood introduced you to eye accessing, but that’s not how eye movement and eye accessing works.
— Dec 19, 2018
The right time is the best time
There are many things you need to consider as you prepare to conduct an employee interview. One of those things you should consider is, “at what time should I conduct the interview?”
— Nov 30, 2018
How's your strategy?
The WZ Introductory Statement is designed to help you gain credibility in a non-confrontational way. One common mistake in the construction of the Introductory Statement is being too specific in its design.
— Oct 30, 2018
Starting the written statement process
Before you ever obtain a written statement, you must consider a careful setup to encourage this important step.
— Sep 28, 2018
You can anticipate explanations
When you’re having a difficult conversation about integrity issues, you need to anticipate denials, handle them properly, and return to rationalisation; just like WZ EU teaches.
— Aug 30, 2018
Avoid the biases
As an investigator you may think you’re doing the right thing in searching for the truth during your interview, but sometimes it’s easy to fall victim to having confirmation bias.
— Jul 30, 2018
What are you rationalising?
Rationalisations help you show understanding during the interview process. Too often interviewers use a rationalisation story that mimics the crime or incident that the subject has committed.
— Jun 29, 2018
What did you just say?
Think for a moment about the statements you make during an interview with the subject of your investigation. Too often interviewers make an implicit promise or suggestion of leniency, without actually realising what they’re saying.
— May 31, 2018
No use of props during an interview
When executing an investigative interview, the only thing you should possess is your case file.
— Apr 29, 2018
You can get personal with your subject
When it comes to rationalizing, the first thing to remember is that you rationalize the motive not the act. One very effective way to do that is with personal stories.
— Mar 27, 2018
Do you have rapport?
Rapport is creating a relationship in a very short period of time. How do you build rapport?
— Feb 28, 2018
Dressing appropriately for an interview
The way an interviewer dresses for an interview definitely matters.
— Jan 30, 2018
How important is the development of the behavioural norm?
Developing a behavioural norm prior to an interview will help to increase the interviewers understanding of any statement made during the interview. This is particularly true when an investigator is preparing to conduct an interview utilising the WZ method. But what is the best way?
— Dec 15, 2017
Interview preparation
Preparing for an investigative interview is essential to a positive outcome and your ability to achieve cooperation and obtain the truth from your subject.
— Nov 28, 2017
How desperate are you?
Your emotions and demeanour play a huge role in the likelihood of your subject cooperating and providing the truth.
— Oct 30, 2017
Human intelligence gathering
You are used to gathering data from a plethora of reports, but what about human intelligence gathering?
— Sep 27, 2017
Having proper perspective
A wise man in Ireland pushed a tea cup in front of another man one day, handle pointing directly towards the other man.
— Aug 31, 2017
The importance of word selection during an investigative interview
Effective communication often relies on the importance of word selection, and this would be true during an investigative interview as well.
— Jul 28, 2017
Did you say props?
We often hear the question, “what about props?” The only thing you should carry with you into an interview room is your case file.
— Jun 30, 2017
Using the Participatory Approach
The Participatory Approach is designed for investigations with circumstantial evidence or when your subject might have an excuse, explanation or some type of alibi that may or may not be true.
— May 31, 2017
You want to see what again?
Have you ever considered the importance of withholding evidence during your investigative interview?
— Apr 26, 2017
Fact-Finding Interview Strategies
A fact-finding interview is extremely important for any investigation.
— Mar 28, 2017
How many types of lies?
When trying to obtain the truth from a dishonest employee or a suspect involved in another type of criminal investigation, we will typically see five types of lies that can be told.
— Feb 27, 2017
Balancing note taking during an interview
Documenting what is said and occurs during an interview is extremely important. You may need to take notes during the interview and ensure you can substantiate what was said and refer back to your notes when writing reports. Balancing the conversation and note taking can be a difficult task.
— Dec 15, 2016
Backing out of an interview
There are several reasons why you, as an interviewer, may want to back out of the interview process.
— Nov 21, 2016
Interviewer Mistakes
Have you ever reflected on your own interview approach and style and examined specific areas of improvement?
— Oct 28, 2016
Do suspects have an interview plan?
Have you ever considered the most likely strategies dishonest people employ during the interview process?
— Sep 28, 2016
What makes people tell the truth?
Have you ever asked yourself that question, or had someone ask you? Let’s be honest, typically telling the truth after doing something wrong is considered a bad idea. But as we all know, people do it quite regularly.
— Aug 31, 2016
Using SWOT as Interview Preparation
Preparation is essential to any investigative interview and due diligence is key.
— Jul 29, 2016
Using educated guesses to develop information
During the truth seeking interview, you will often find yourself developing information beyond the scope of the initial investigation...
— Jun 24, 2016
Candidate interview – using the assumptive question
When interviewing a candidate for a job, you can utilise the same Non-Confrontational principles of the WZ Method to the pre-employment interview. For example, let’s look at how you could utilise the assumptive question in the candidate interview.
— May 31, 2016
The innocent person's fear
Emotions can run high during an interview with an employee about an integrity issue in the workplace.
— Apr 30, 2016
Leaving your subject alone prior to the interview?
There are many seasoned investigators who prefer to leave their subject sitting alone in the interview room prior to the interview...
— Mar 16, 2016
What type of denial is it?
Your subject can offer a verbalised denial in one of two ways; emphatic or with explanation.
— Feb 26, 2016
Let’s avoid the argument
One aspect of the interview process that we must remember to avoid is arguing with your subject.
— Jan 27, 2016
The best way to identify the most appropriate rationalisation
The selection of the correct rationalisation can sometimes be the hardest part of your interview strategy - rapport building can help to overcome that problem.
— Nov 30, 2015
The proper structure to your rationalisation
The rationalisation is used to show understanding to your subject and promote cooperation during the interview...
— Oct 27, 2015
Handling requests for water during the interview
There may be several interruptions and requests coming from your subject during the investigative interview...
— Oct 1, 2015
Further developing admissions
It’s safe to say that your subject knows more about what they did than you do; because they are the one that did it ...
— Aug 28, 2015
Change whose perspective?
Psychology suggests that when an individual says something out loud, they are more likely to defend it. For this reason, the change of perspective becomes an important element to truth verification during the subject interview.
— Jul 31, 2015
Submission. What does it look like?
Submission during the admission gathering interview is an indication that your subject is in a position to co-operate with the process ....
— Jul 1, 2015
Silence in an interview
Using the all-knowing silent look has been considered a great way to get an admission.
— May 28, 2015
Backing out of an interview
There are several reasons why you, as an interviewer, may want to back out of the interview process...
— Apr 29, 2015
Do the suspects you interview have a plan?
Have you ever considered the most likely strategies dishonest people employ during the interview process? Research shows that once dishonest people realise they are going to be, or are currently being interviewed regarding an incident, they have one of three plans of action.
— Mar 31, 2015
Interviewer Mistakes
Have you ever reflected on your own interview approach and style and examined specific areas of improvement?
— Mar 2, 2015
Why do people confess?
Have you ever asked yourself that question, or had someone ask you?
— Jan 27, 2015
WZ Tip of the Month - Interview Preparation
Preparation is essential to any investigative interview and due diligence is key. But have you ever conducted a SWOT analysis as part of your preparation?
— Nov 28, 2014
Wicklander-Zulawski Tip of the Month
Leaving your subject alone prior to the interview?
— Sep 29, 2014
The Process of Admission Interviews: The Four Phases of Interviews
No matter how the interviewer chooses to obtain an admission from a suspect, there will be four distinct phases to the admission interview process.
— Nov 26, 2013
Top 10 Employee Interview Dos and Don’ts - By Wicklander-Zulawski
Over the last few years of teaching non-confrontational interview techniques to investigations professionals in the U.K. and Europe, we have observed some consistent dos and don’ts during the employee interview process.
— Nov 26, 2013
The Shrink King
Laurence King is regarded by many in the retail sector as the founding father of modern LP. During a career spanning almost fifty years, he has become renowned as champion of cultural and behavioural change and coined the phrase—“If you don’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”
