WHEN INTERVIEWS SKID OFF TRACK

Ever find yourself in the middle of an interview that’s spiraling out of control? 

Yeah, it happens more often than you’d think. 

One minute you’re on topic, the next you’re fielding left-field questions about who-knows-what. So, what do you do when an interview goes off the rails? 

Here’s my take on how to wrangle that runaway train of a conversation back on track without losing your cool (or your mind).

PREP LIKE YOU MEAN IT

First things first, let’s talk preparation. 

You think you’re going to waltz into an interview without a game plan? 

C’mon!

You need a solid understanding of what you’re walking into. 

This isn’t a surprise birthday party; it’s an interview. Brief your client, understand the journalist, and for crying out loud, make sure you’ve got the whole thing down pat. 

But hey, sometimes even the best-laid plans get tossed out the window.

REAL TIPS FROM THE TRENCHES

Hit Pause.

Sometimes you just need to put things on hold for a sec. 

“Excuse me, can we just take a quick break?” 

That’s your magic line. 

It’s simple, it’s polite, and it gives everyone a chance to breathe and maybe even get back to the point.

Keep a Record. 

If you’re not recording your interviews, start now. It’s your safety net. 

Things go sideways? You’ve got the whole circus on tape. 

It helps to keep everyone honest and on their toes.

DIVE INTO THE DIALOGUE

So the interview’s live and comments are rolling in. 

People are talking, and not just about the weather. 

Engage! 

Jump into that comments section like it’s the last piece of pie at Thanksgiving. 

It shows you’re involved, attentive, and actually care about the conversation that’s unfolding.

USE THE REAL VOICES

User-generated content isn’t just buzzword bingo; it’s gold. 

Real people, real stories—it doesn’t get more authentic than that. 

Use that to your advantage. 

It grounds your narrative and keeps things from floating off into the stratosphere.

DON’T CLAMP DOWN, LIGHTEN UP

Here’s the thing: control is an illusion, especially in interviews. 

You can steer the ship, but you can’t control the sea. 

Don’t get all tense if things start to veer a bit. 

Flexibility can lead to some of the best, most genuine moments. Just keep it within reason.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS, REGROUP

Alright, say things are going really off-script. It’s not just a detour; it’s a full-on off-road adventure. 

You might need to step in. 

A gentle nudge back on track or a firm, “Let’s circle back to that later,” might just do the trick. 

And if the journalist is playing hardball, not in the spirit of good journalism but just to stir the pot? 

It might be time to wrap things up. 

Politely, of course.

TRUST BUILDING IS KEY

Look, establishing a good rapport with journalists is like any relationship—it’s built on trust. 

They need to know you’re not just there to spin a yarn, and you need to trust them to not turn the interview into a witch hunt. 

Mutual respect? 

It’s a beautiful thing.

KEEPING YOUR HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU ARE LOSING THEIRS

So there you have it.

Interviews can go off the rails, and it’s up to you to pull it back. 

Preparation, engagement, authenticity, flexibility, and a bit of tactful intervention. 

That’s your toolkit. 

Use it wisely and remember: sometimes, you just gotta roll with the punches and keep your sense of humor about you. Because at the end of the day, it’s only an interview, not a matter of life and death.