A novel method is developed to construct the Jan‐Teller interaction matrices. The applicability of the method is demonstrated by constructing first and second order Jan‐Teller interaction matrices of theT1⊗ (e⊕t2) octahedral system. The method given here is useful to obtain the Jan‐Teller interaction matrices of the other systems as well as higher order interaction matrices. We also discuss the determination of the location of the stationary points on the potential energy surface, by a successive symmetry breaking of corresponding finite group into its maximal little groups. © 2004 American Institute of Physics