When I first started doing usability testing I felt like a fraud.
I talked too much during tests, gave too much away, forgot to ask open questions or respond to a question with a question.
A professional in a lab coat hovered at my shoulder and mouthed insistently "You're doing it wrong!".
Being professional is overrated
The turning point for me was observing a qualified usability professional.
The participant was a London cabbie, a friendly, talkative guy. I felt a lot of empathy towards him and was surprised by how cold the facilitator was.
I made up my mind to do it differently.
Empathy first
You must respect the thoughts and opinions of others, especially if they are your customers.
Having a conversation with someone is the basis of all user research so frame it that way in your mind, relax and get on with it.
You can only get better
Even now, I'm a long way from being a great facilitator but I welcome the practice.
Learn to find and work with people who are better than you. You will learn loads from watching them work.
Embrace amateurishness
There are so many options, it's foolish to rely on the opinions of others without trying it out yourself.
Don’t worry about technique. Even a bad usability test will tell you something even if it's only how to improve the next one.
Once you embrace your unprofessionalism, the less of an amateur you feel.