--- title: 1. Final preparations before the Discovery interview description: 11 Suggestions to get your team ready for its first Discovery interview. --- [Skip to content](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/1.-final-preparations-before-the-discovery-interview#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![AIM-logo-white.png\]](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AIM-logo-white.png?height=40&name=AIM-logo-white.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - Contact us Contact us BlueHelp® Knowledge Center - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [BLUE HELP](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en?hsLang=en) 2. [Discovery Interviews (Step 2)](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en) 3. [How to conduct a Discovery interview](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-conduct-a-discovery-interview) # 1. Final preparations before the Discovery interview ## 11 Suggestions to get your team ready for its first Discovery interview. Let’s say your Discovery interview is coming up soon: Consider these final preparations: 1. ![](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-155.png?width=300&name=image-155.png)Review Side 1 of your *Discovery Interview Quick-Start Card*… which includes many tips, including a packing list. (Download at [www.blueprintingcenter.com](http://www.blueprintingcenter.com) \> BlueTools \> Conduct Discovery Interviews/Tours.) 2. Be sure to take a small digital projector with you, in case the customers’ projector doesn’t work. For projector recommendations, see the BlueHelp article, [*Finding & bringing your own projector*](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/3.-finding-and-bringing-your-own-projector?hsLang=en). 3. Make sure all your colleagues are up to speed. If they haven’t been fully trained, ensure they’ve reviewed the site, [blueprintingforsales.com](http://www.blueprintingforsales.com). Consider a pre-briefing session and/or role-playing prior to the interview. 4. If you haven’t already done so, try to schedule a customer tour to take place, preferably before the interview. Take with you the *AMUSE Customer Tour Checklist*, downloadable at [blueprintingcenter.com](http://www.blueprintingcenter.com) \> BlueTools \> Conduct Discovery Interviews/Tours. For more, see the BlueHelp article, [*How to conduct a customer tour*](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-conduct-a-customer-tour). 5. Make sure you’ve got a solid list of possible Current State “opening” questions selected for your entire project in *Blueprinter Tool 2.3: Plan Questions & Triggers*. Then, in the Prep Sheet for this interview, select 2 or 3 that you’ll use to begin the interview. (You can access Prep Sheets in *Blueprinter Tools 2.1 or 2.5*.) For more, see the BlueHelp article, [*How to create & use Current State questions*](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-create-use-current-state-questions). 6. Be sure you’ve created at least one Trigger Map in *Blueprinter Tool 2.3: Plan Questions & Triggers*. In the Prep Sheet for this interview, select one of them. For more, see the BlueHelp article, [*How to use Trigger Maps*](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-use-trigger-maps). 7. Complete the rest of the Prep Sheet for this interview in *Blueprinter Tool 2.1 or 2.5*. If you don’t see the names of your team-mates in the Prep Sheet’s “Our Interview Team” drop-down menu, add them at the main menu (upper left) in the page “Team & Timeline.” 8. Get to the meeting 15 minutes early to set up. Arrange this ahead of time by saying that you just don’t want to waste their people’s time. 9. Plan on up to 2 hours of debriefing time after the interview in a nearby coffee shop, restaurant, or quiet part of an airport lounge. Print and carry with you the aid, *Debriefing Checklist*, at [blueprintingcenter.com](http://www.blueprintingcenter.com) \> BlueTools \> Conduct Discovery Interviews/Tours. 10. ![](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-154.png?width=300&name=image-154.png)During the interview, have Side 2 of your *Discovery Interview Quick-Start Card* face-up on the conference room table. Use this for transitions between each part of the interview and for probing reminders. 11. Special cases: - If interviewing in a language other than English… or a culture outside N. America or W. Europe, review the BlueHelp article, [*Interviewing in different global cultures & languages*](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#interviewing-in-different-global-cultures-languages). - If interviewing at a trade show, review the BlueHelp article, [*How to interview at trade shows & other venues*](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-interview-at-trade-shows-other-venues). - If interviewing remotely via web-conference, review the BlueHelp article, [*How to interview remotely with web-conferences*](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-interview-remotely-with-web-conferences). - You've already been meeting a lot with this customer... and it might seem odd to "start all over" with a Discovery interview. For tips on how to handle this, see the BlueHelp article, *[Special case 1: You've already been meeting with this customer](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/4.-special-cases-when-requesting-discovery-interviews?hsLang=en)*. - Your customer wants you to make a presentation to them during your Discovery visit. For tips on handling this, see the BlueHelp article, *[Special case 2: The customer wants you to make a presentation](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/2nd-special-case?hsLang=en)*.   Keywords: Discovery interview preparation, getting ready for Discovery interviews, Before your Discovery interview, Discovery Interview Quick-Start Card, Special cases for Discovery interviews, Discovery Prep sheet - [Blueprinting Center & Methodology](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#main-content) - [What is New Product Blueprinting?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#what-is-new-product-blueprinting) - [How is Blueprinting learned and applied?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#how-is-blueprinting-learned-and-applied) - [Blueprinting Center](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#blueprinting-center) - [Blueprinting E-Learning Course](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#blueprinting-e-learning-course) - [How can I become Certified in New Product Blueprinting?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#how-can-i-become-certified-in-new-product-blueprinting) - [How does Blueprinting fit with a stage-and-gate process?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#how-does-blueprinting-fit-with-a-stage-and-gate-process) - [How does Blueprinting fit with strategic planning?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#how-does-blueprinting-fit-with-strategic-planning) - [How does Blueprinting fit with Design Thinking?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#how-does-blueprinting-fit-with-design-thinking) - [How does Blueprinting fit with Lean Startup?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#how-does-blueprinting-fit-with-lean-startup) - [How does Blueprinting fit with Minesweeper de-risking?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinting-center-methodology?hsLang=en#how-does-blueprinting-fit-with-minesweeper-de-risking) - 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[Step 2](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#step-2) - [Step 3](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#step-3) - [Step 4](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#step-4) - [Step 5](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#step-5) - [Software Security and Setup](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#software-security-and-setup) - [Blueprinting Executive Dashboard](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#blueprinting-executive-dashboard) - [Technical Issues](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#technical-issues) - [Blueprinter Updates](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#blueprinter-updates) - [Update Archive](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/blueprinter-software?hsLang=en#update-archive) - [Market Segmentation (Step 1)](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/market-segmentation-step-1?hsLang=en#main-content) - [How to conduct secondary market research](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/market-segmentation-step-1?hsLang=en#how-to-conduct-secondary-market-research) - [How to engage industry experts](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/market-segmentation-step-1?hsLang=en#how-to-engage-industry-experts) - [How to segment markets](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/market-segmentation-step-1?hsLang=en#how-to-segment-markets) - [How to select your target market segment](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/market-segmentation-step-1?hsLang=en#how-to-select-your-target-market-segment) - [“How B2B” is your market segment?](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/market-segmentation-step-1?hsLang=en#how-b2b-is-your-market-segment) - [Discovery Interviews (Step 2)](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#main-content) - [How to plan Discovery interviews](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-plan-discovery-interviews) - [Preparing your interview team](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#preparing-your-interview-team) - [Convincing customers to be interviewed](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#convincing-customers-to-be-interviewed) - [How to handle confidential info in an interview](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-handle-confidential-info-in-an-interview) - [How to conduct a Discovery interview](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-conduct-a-discovery-interview) - [Finding & using a digital projector for interviews](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#finding-using-a-digital-projector-for-interviews) - [How to conduct a customer tour](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-conduct-a-customer-tour) - [How to debrief & follow-up a Discovery interview](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-debrief-follow-up-a-discovery-interview) - 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[How to form Outcome Statements](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/discovery-interviews-step-2?hsLang=en#how-to-form-outcome-statements) - [Preference Interviews (Step 3)](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/preference-interviews-step-3?hsLang=en#main-content) - [How to prepare for Preference interviews](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/preference-interviews-step-3?hsLang=en#how-to-prepare-for-preference-interviews) - [How to schedule Preference interviews](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/preference-interviews-step-3?hsLang=en#how-to-schedule-preference-interviews) - [How to conduct a Preference interview](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/preference-interviews-step-3?hsLang=en#how-to-conduct-a-preference-interview) - [How to analyze your Preference data](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/preference-interviews-step-3?hsLang=en#how-to-analyze-your-preference-data) - [How to build your Market Case](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/preference-interviews-step-3?hsLang=en#how-to-build-your-market-case) - 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Brainstorm Assumptions](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/minesweeper-de-risking?hsLang=en#step-1-brainstorm-assumptions) - [Step 2. Consumption Chain](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/minesweeper-de-risking?hsLang=en#step-2-consumption-chain) - [Step 3. Individual Ratings](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/minesweeper-de-risking?hsLang=en#step-3-individual-ratings) - [Step 4. Team Ratings](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/minesweeper-de-risking?hsLang=en#step-4-team-ratings) - [Step 5. Review Certainty Matrix](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/minesweeper-de-risking?hsLang=en#step-5-review-certainty-matrix) - [Step 6. CheckPoint Plan](https://support.theaiminstitute.com/en/minesweeper-de-risking?hsLang=en#step-6-checkpoint-plan) - [Step 7. 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