The Guide
Introduction
General questions
In what settings have you found it easiest to open up to others in?
Tell me about a time when you felt like you got to know someone better
How important do you think vulnerability is? Why?
Game-Specific questions
Conclusion
- Explain that we’re trying to explore vulnerability and how people open up to one another
General questions
- Who do you want to get to know better?
- What has prevented you from doing so?
- How well do you usually get to know the people you work with?
In what settings have you found it easiest to open up to others in?
- Talk to them about what environmental factors, etc. made this possible
- Around how many people would you say you have relationships with that you’re comfortable with being vulnerable?
- Do you consider yourself to be someone who can easily be vulnerable with others?
- What circumstances?
- With who?
Tell me about a time when you felt like you got to know someone better
- What did you talk about?
How important do you think vulnerability is? Why?
Game-Specific questions
- Show them words that we have as our preliminary set of prompts
- What other words would you want to add?
Conclusion
- Thank them
- Ask them if they had any questions about the goal of the interview
Excerpts from Participant #1
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My project partner didn't know how to code, so I did most of the work on the app...He had a very valid excuse to not get much work done. It was still frustrating though because we went through the process together, but I was the one who did all the work...I wish I had confronted him. I think my frustration came out at the end. If I’d confronted him, we probably would’ve reached an agreement.
... I’d like to know [a teammate's] personality if working with them directly. Otherwise I wouldn’t feel comfortable communicating with them and everything would crash and burn. ... I don’t think I need to know people working on something tangential to my work, but I guess it might help...It helps you feel good about what you’re working on if people you respect are working on it too. And there’s more of a team feel than just knowing “some people over there” are working on the same thing kind of. ... Icebreakers favor extroverts. Part of that is that most people do icebreakers in a huge group. When one person answers, everyone hears it. I prefer small group icebreakers. Part of the issue with icebreakers is they cause stress. Then you are hyper-sensitive to the fact that other people are observing what you’re saying. But there’s no other way you can put it really. |
Excerpts from Participant #2
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I shared a role with a girl who was at first very abrasive and not accepting. I had to work very hard to break down that barrier in the first few months. I didn't take her up on fights that she'd present, and wouldn't bite on things that she'd do to bother. I also tried to pursue a personal relationship - figure out things in common, ask about her day, and act interested in her personal life (she liked talking about herself). Being 100% kind and honest all the time. Had to show her that we were joined by wanting to make the show as good as possible, even though we had different views of it.
... If the other person is super open, it's easier to be open. But it all depends on my personal emotional state, regardless of the setting. I usually don't tell people things I wouldn't want the world to know. ... I'm pretty comfortable sharing general information about myself unless I get strange vibes, just an instinct... If someone asks, I don't mind saying, but I don't like people who overshare. I like to flip it back to them. ... I'd ask a fellow student to go get a coffee at a cafe sometime [to get to know them better]. It's not a long commitment for either person, and it doesn't feel bad to cancel on a coffee.... So, casual, no pressure. It's a easy test, to see if they want to buy you coffee. Coffee shops have lots of people, so there are lots of prompts to talk about from the surroundings, the environment is good. ... [My friend] and I have coffee at her place, and one day just transitioned between “friends” and actual friends. Now we're at point where we can talk about anything - vulnerability, insecurities. It's easy to share, to feel that can trust and not be judged. Being heard without being told what should be... We have an understanding that we had similar backgrounds and values, and saw each other as people who have similar goals and expectations of the people we want to be. ... In professional settings, [vulnerability is not] necessary in a personal way. You should be vulnerable in certain ways, like asking for feedback and implementing it. It's about separating how you determine human value with what happens at work, and taking what helps you make yourself better. You need to be able to filter, build a tough skin. |
Excerpts from Participant #3
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How well do you get to know the people you work with?
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Excerpts from Participant #4
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With how many co-workers do you usually work with or interact with to a large extent? How well do you usually get to know them?
Who do you want to get to know better? What has prevented you from doing so?
In what settings have you found it easiest to open up to others in?
Around how many people would you say you have relationships with that you’re comfortable with being vulnerable?
Do you consider yourself to be someone who can easily be vulnerable with others? What circumstances? With who?
How important do you think vulnerability is? Why?
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