“Were you si-lent or were you si-lenced?” asks Oprah. Like an orchestra conductor before a musical canvas, she makes an elegant brushstroke gesture as the question is produced.

The rhythm is slow.

The carefully enunciated words dance in the air before landing on surprised ears.

The entire delivery is a stroke of genius.

My ears hear the clarification. My spirit feels the gentle tug of her words. My mind immediately registers their simple brilliance.

It is a swift sensory sweep.

I blink, caught by surprise. Yet, I am not the one being interviewed.

Hollllly Oprah masterclass… this is journalistic magnificence.

Tell me you felt it too?

Attention, everyone with a TV or internet connection: don’t you dare miss the opportunity to glean valuable communication tips from the Oprah interview aired on March 7th on CBS (even if you don’t follow Meghan and Harry, check it out to observe Oprah!)

Lesson #1 from an “Oprah masterclass”: Lead with kindness and genuine interest

Oprah kicks off her interview on a family-friendly note, taking her time to ask about Meghan’s pregnancy. Surely – like the millions of viewers – in this moment she must be practically salivating at the mouth, hungry and impatient for the dish to be served.

Hers is exclusive access to royalty’s most talked-about couple. The promise of a juicy treat is undeniable.

But, patience, friends. A dash of kindness first.  

As tempting as “going straight for the kill” might be, this is no Uma Thurman, Kill Bill re-enactment.  Using a well-oiled disciplined approach, she slowly builds a compassionate connection with her interview subject.

The first lesson I’ve scribbled down in my notepad from this Oprah masterclass is: remember to be personable! First and foremost, establish a genuine human connection. 

Then, let’s get down to business.

Lesson #2 from an “Oprah masterclass”: Use time wisely

Make no mistake – not going straight for the kill does not mean she doesn’t go for it. In fact, Oprah makes a beeline for the tough topics once warm opening exchanges are made.

It could be a client prospect, potential employer, or your elusive neighbour passing by – she reminds us to maximize the time afforded to us. It could be our only shot at a valuable communication exchange!

We’ve got to make that time count. Who knows what could develop from that conversation?

Lesson #3 from an “Oprah masterclass”: Listen and confirm that you’ve understood correctly

The art of listening. You’ve heard this before but the occasion warrants a reminder: truly listen to your speaker – without interruptions, and without waiting to insert your point.

If you’re doing the latter you’ll likely miss important elements from the conversation and won’t be able to do what Oprah does next…

Also Read: 6 Career Mistakes That are Easy to Avoid. Or Make!

A wonderful habit which Oprah subtly employs throughout her interview is the practice of repeating or recapping what the interview subject has said. 

This ensures that the speaker is understood correctly and removes the risk of misinterpretation in the message being relayed, or having a key point overlooked.

Especially in situations where a communication blip may be a costly error, this is an excellent practice to employ. Leave no opportunity for ambiguity!

If you are that person in the workplace whose every other email begins with “for the avoidance of doubt”, then you are exempt from this lesson. Congratulations, your unpopular habit earns you a lighter course load today.

Lesson #4 from an “Oprah masterclass”: Commit to your communication goal

Getting folks to speak on the toughest topics…ooooof! Oprah’s success in coaxing mouths open on sensitive subjects and extracting never-before-heard details is fascinating.

Especially when the speaker has already managed to not answer the original question.

For me, this may be her greatest talent – to elicit responses on those hard, emotionally-charged questions one way, or the other.

The method she uses isn’t revolutionary at all. However, it uses two communication methods that everyone is not – but should – get comfortable with: directness and persistence. 

She circles back to unanswered questions gently but firmly. 

Can you tell me more about…?

You didn’t answer the question about…

The style is direct.

The language is simple.

Impressive as this is, let’s set the talented Oprah Winfrey aside for a moment and consider this theme of being relentless for answers in our own real life situations.

(call this my ambition vs. reality segment)

Getting people to speak when they are reluctant to expand on the topic, or where they have made up their mind that they won’t utter a peep is often unattainable. Oprah’s success in her “circle-back” technique is an art and a very well-practised one at that.

Now that’s not to say I haven’t included the lesson in my masterclass notes, with the clear intention of pursuing this exercise in future communications. Even if there’s a 1% chance of capturing new and valuable information from another in conversation, it’s worth the try!

Lesson #5 from an “Oprah masterclass”: Give maximum engagement, get maximum engagement back

Friendly. Business-like. Shocked. Empathetic. The list goes on. The reel of emotional responses which Oprah produces during her interview signals to all: “I am 110% vested in this conversation”

She leans forward at critical moments and creates intimacy.

She leans back to show that she is impacted – no, blown away – by a statement made.

The energy has the intended spillover effect. The speaker appears to feel heard and obliges to share a bit more than originally intended, without much resistance; we, the audience, are fixated. What comes next?

We already know the power of words. But here, we have an Oprah masterclass on the power of pairing words with body movement. Boy, does the combination make an impact. This duo is the other power couple of this tale. 

Whether on their own or employed collectively, these techniques reflect brilliant journalism. Beyond this scope, they can certainly be applied in any other field. Can’t you envision how much more remarkable your engagements will be if you’re consistently practising any of Oprah’s communication techniques? I certainly can.