General Characteristics of an Investigator

An Investigator must possess certain skills and personal characteristics, some of which must be learned and some which must simply be part of his or her character. Like any scientist, the Investigator often starts an enquiry with a hypothesis that needs to be proved or disproved Steven R Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, maintains that trustworthiness is the result of two such characteristics - character and competence. Competence is the result of learning and application, and personal character can be similarly attained. It can be attained most easily when high standards are manifest. In order to attain high standards, an investigator could do no better than comply with the following attribute statements.

• An Investigator is honest, objective, and has integrity. Integrity is best described as the ability to walk one’s professional talk. To be what one is seen to be, and to be seen to be what one is. In a practical sense, this could mean that even when the information being discovered no longer supports a previously held hypothesis it is accepted for what it is, and disclosed in accordance with the legal rules governing the subject at hand. It is not the investigator’s responsibility to decide what is done with information and with evidence.       
• An Investigator is a listener. Listening to the client demonstrates that the professional investigator cares about the client, the client’s problem, and the client’s requirements as far as the solution is concerned. Listening skills in respect of other individuals assists the investigator in discerning truth from lies, honesty from duplicity.         
• An Investigator is also a communicator. Keeping clients up to date with developments, ensuring that interviewees understand processes and objectives of a conversation, ensuring that other professionals understand and should assist with enquiries - all are reliant upon the investigator’s ability to communicate. Verbal and writing skills should be learned and exercised at all times. An ability to express oneself in writing is particularly important because that is the way in which most communications between investigators, clients, lawyers and the courts take place. In court, the ability to project and present evidence well is also extremely important.

This is an extract from the SFJ Level 3 Professional Investigator Course

To learn more please see the course content page