A good PI knows how to "size up."

When you are a private investigator, you are often called upon to "size up" a potential witness and this process must be done within a couple of seconds. The private investigator looking for a good witness' statement must almost immediately determine the best way of connecting with the witness.

A good way to do this is via eye contact. Once eye contact has been made, the pi can tell if a good connection has been made. If so, the interview will progress along smoothly. If not, an excellent way to foster a positive response is by focusing on the physical environment.

Usually, the prospective witness will be approached within their comfort zone. It is the job of a good pi to transform the comfort zone into one in which both interviewer and interviewee will be at ease.

The key to any interview is in getting to the level of the person you want to speak with and then making them feel comfortable with you. And, once again, we are back to what makes a good "recipe." It should be a sprinkling of questions mixed with a dash of humor and a tablespoon of continued eye contact.

After all, in this country no one should be forced to say anything against his or her will so the goal of a pi is to foster a positive relationship between themselves and the witness. In this way, the interview will go smoothly and a beneficial statement will be obtained.