Asim Malik

OGL:482

November 3, 2023

Inspiration: Interviewing Project

 Self-awareness is a big part of personal and professional growth. Leaders who seek to

improve must first understand how their actions, traits, and behaviors are perceived by those they

love and lead in order to evolve. That is exactly why I embarked on a quest to gain insights into

my own leadership style and character, engaging in personal and professional interviews with

individuals who know me. These interviews were conducted with my girlfriend, mother, and a

professional colleague, each shedding a light on different aspects of my leadership persona.

The reason why I chose to interview these people was because I felt like each of them has

known me long enough that they would be able to provide me with solid information for

reflection. I took detailed notes during each interview rather than using a recording device

because I did not want to put more pressure on them while they were speaking. I feel like this

tactic helped get very honest responses from everyone. I used a similar set of questions in each of

the interview guides but had some unique questions sprinkled into each list that I felt they would

be able to provide me with a long response. Each of the interviews lasted from about 12-15 min.

Once I had gathered all of my data I systematically evaluated and analyzed the responses based

on the similar questions that I asked first as seen below.

What was your rationale in developing your interview guide sheet(s)? What did you hope

to discover?

My rationale behind developing the interview guide sheets was to gain a comprehensive

understanding of my personal and professional leadership traits. I also wanted to receive

feedback specifically on my strengths and weaknesses from a few different perspectives. I feel

that the questions that I used in my interview guide did just that.

How comfortable did you feel listening to the feedback in your personal interview(s)?

I felt pretty comfortable listening to the feedback in my personal interviews as I have know my

mom my entire life and my girlfriend almost a decade. Both of them provided me with praise and

constructive criticism. Their feedback helped me better understand how I am perceived and

where I can improve.

How comfortable did you feel listening to the feedback in your professional interview(s)?

I was nervous coming into the professional interview, but once we got started it was nice

listening to his feedback. Jamar, my coworker, offered insights into my professional leadership

style and character. His observations helped me recognize areas where I can improve. I

appreciated the honesty and specific recommendations for development.

What did you learn about yourself as a result of this process?

Throughout this process I learned about my strengths, such as being kind, empathetic, and a good

planner. I also gained insight into areas where I need improvement, specifically overthinking,
panicking in unexpected situations, and being overly nice at times. I discovered that I tend to

excel in teamwork, thoroughness, and organization in both personal and professional settings.

Were there any surprising results from your interviews? Explain?

There was a surprising amount of consistency in feedback from both my personal and

professional relationships. My identified strengths and areas for improvement were all along the

same lines. I was not expecting to hear that being overly nice is one of my weaknesses. However,

once he highlighted it and I took a moment to reflect, I could see exactly where he was coming

from.

How will you think differently, and what will you do differently, as a result of this

assignment (self-monitoring, working on developing certain skills, etc.)? What did you

learn about your leadership style?

As a result of this assignment am definitely going to be more self-aware of my negative

tendencies. Although I have taken many different assessments to determine my leadership style

hearing things about me from those who know me longer than almost anyone was refreshing. I

will work on doing better to not overthink things and staying calm under pressure. I will also

strive to find a good balance between being too nice and too assertive. Thanks to the different
perspectives from the interviews, I now have a better idea on what I need to self-monitor in order

to become a more effective and well-rounded leader.

My willingness to understand my strengths and weaknesses shows the commitment that I have to

become the best leader I can be. These valuable insights I have gained from these interviews are

going to empower me to refine my leadership style by capitalizing on my strengths and actively

addressing my areas of improvement.

Interview Guide Sheet - Personal Interview

Name of Interviewee/ Relationship: Emma (Girlfriend)

Date of Interview: 10/29/23

Question 1) Can you please provide some background regarding our relationship and how long

we have known each other?

Answer: Sure, we met each other at a very small high school in Arizona in our Junior/ Senior.

We have been dating for almost nine years now. After we both graduated high school we decided

to move out of our parents houses and get an apartment in downtown Phoenix. I have been at

your side through many different phases of life so far. I have seen your evolution from acting as

a young boy to becoming a man. I hope to continue to see your growth for many more years to

come.

Question 2) What are the best adjectives you would use to describe me and why?

Answer: The adjectives that best describe you to me are kind, understanding, and openminded.

You consistently demonstrate to me that you genuinely care about the well-being of others.

When I hear you talk about situations at work your words reflect a strong sense of empathy and a

willingness to help others in need. Your actions show that you truly are a kind person that does

their best to creates a positive and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. That is a big reason why
I believe people connect with you and enjoy being around you. I think it also has to do with the

level of understanding you have with others. Even if someone makes a mistake or “wrongs you”

you do not reciprocate that energy back to them. When people come to you with new

information or viewpoints on a subject you always take the time to listen. Your open-mindedness

is another reason why people love to interact with you because of your willingness to consider

alternate perspectives.

Question 3) What do you honestly believe my greatest strengths are and why?

Answer: To me your greatest strengths are your ability to multitask so well, your

resourcefulness, and your selflessness. Multitasking is by far one of your strong suits, as I have

seen you have shown that you can handle juggling numerous tasks simultaneously while still

maintaining a high level of productivity. Your resourcefulness is also another remarkable trait,

that comes to my mind as I have watched you solve some of the most difficult problems. You are

able to find innovative solutions to challenges when you put your mind to it. Lastly, your

selflessness has always been one of your strong suits. I have witnessed your willingness to put

other people’s needs before your own on many occasions. All of these strengths are reasons why

I believe you are a great partner and leader.

Question 4) What do you honestly believe are my biggest flaws or weaknesses and why?
Answer: To me personally I believe that your biggest weaknesses are overthinking things and

feeling overly anxious when faced with unexpected challenges. There have been many times

where you will completely overthink the outcomes of the situation causing you to second guess

yourself and your choices. I think it has a lot to do with how badly you strive for perfection but

has led you to be indecisive or even make mistakes at times. This goes hand in hand with your

other main weakness in my opinion. Which is feeling a sense of panic when things don't go as

planned. While you are one of the best problem solvers that I know but I have seen you get very

overwhelmed when your initial idea or plan does not work out. Recognizing your flaws or

weaknesses is important part of addressing them. We have had plenty of conversations over the

years about this and I know that you are always working on staying calm under pressure and not

overthinking things.

Question 5) How would you describe me as a leader?

Answer: I would describe you as a leader who is an effective planner. You have a very

meticulous approach when it comes to getting projects done. However, you are also great at

setting clear objectives and strategies help ensure that your team stays on track and meets their

goals. I believe that has everything to do with how you delegate tasks effectively. You have a

very thorough understanding of the people you work withs strengths and weaknesses. Which

helps you decide which tasks should be carried out by who. I think it is clear that your leadership

style emphasizes structure and teamwork which are valuable qualities in a leader.
Question 6) Can you recall a time where I was an effective leader?

Answer: We used to move apartments almost every year when our lease was up. About two

months before our we had to move you would already be preparing. Then when it came time to

move things for the most part would always be so smooth. When movers arrived you had a plan,

a checklist ready, made sure that everything was packed, organized, and ready to go. Your ability

to foresee the entire moving process, break it down into manageable tasks, and communicate it

clearly to everyone involved was surprising to see. You reduced stress the stresses that I had

during the moves by making transition seamless and efficient. Your effective leadership was

clearly displayed then.

Question 7) Can you recall a time where I was not the best leader?

Answer: When working with family and friends I have seen you give up on trying to lead and

end up doing all of the work yourself. I do not think that you were a very effective leader in

those situations. I know you are capable of rallying everyone together if you would just take

some time to think. I know that in these situations you are probably trying to avoid conflict and

or maintain a peaceful environment, but it can sometimes hinder your leadership effectiveness. I

see the potential to lead effectively. You should take charge and lead with confidence.

Question 8) If you could only give me one thing to focus on improving what would it be?
Answer: I think this goes back to one of the previous questions you asked me regarding your

shortcomings. I would recommend that you focus on improving your response to unforeseen

circumstances. I believe that by improving how you react to unexpected situations it will greatly

improve your leadership capabilities and results. While your planning and organizational skills

are impressive, being more adaptable and resilient in the face of unexpected challenges will

make you an even stronger leader.

Question 9) Out of the following skill areas what do you believe my top three are? (Innovation,

Thoroughness, Teamwork, Communication, Leadership, Listening, Adaptability, Organization,

Self-awareness, Ability to maintain work/life balance and Motivation)

Answer:

Out of these skill areas I would say that listening, teamwork and organization are your top three.

I think that throughout the interview we have had those are the skills that I have mentioned the

most about you. It's evident to me from our conversation that listening, teamwork, and

organization are skills that stand out in your leadership style.

Question 10) Do you picture me in a leadership role in the future why or why not?

Answer: I can completely envision you in a leadership role in the future. Your personality and

skills together make you the perfect candidate for someone in a leadership position in my

opinion. You have a strong desire for personal and professional growth of yourself and people

around you. Although you have had limited opportunities to prove yourself as a leader in a

professional setting, I believe you have the potential to make a lasting impact once you get the

chance in a future leadership position.

Interview Guide Sheet - Personal Interview

Name of Interviewee/ Relationship: Mumina (Mother)

Date of Interview: 10/30/23

Question 1) What was the proudest leadership moment you have of me?

Answer: The proudest moment of leadership I have of you was when we went backpacking into

the Havasupai falls. We had experienced older scouts with us and other parents as well, but we

ended up getting lost on the trail to one of the falls. While many of the scouts and even their

parents were panicking due to the treacherous terrain you remained calm found a trail marker

and led us back on the right path. I remember this moment so clearly because one of your fellow

scouts’ fathers cut his leg on a piece of driftwood walking through a creek passing on the way

back to the trail and while everyone else continued to get back to the trail you helped him
clean/dress the wound and stayed close to him once getting back on the trail to ensure that he did

not get left behind or re-injured.

Question 2) What are the best adjectives you would use to describe me and why?

Answer: The adjectives that I think best describe you are helpful, empathetic, and positive

attitude. You are always willing to assist and support others in with or without being asked. Your

entire life you have had a very helpful nature about yourself. I have seen you providing guidance

to friend’s countless times, lend a hand or offer solutions to those in need and exhibit empathy

for the well-being of the people around you. I have seen your outward optimistic outlook on life

brighten the mood many times over the years.

Question 3) What do you honestly believe my greatest strengths are and why?

Answer: Your greatest strength to me has to be your determination. I have observed your

unwavering commitment to reach your goals in life. It has been one of the biggest reasons why

you have been able to overcome the challenges and obstacles you have faced. You persevere

when faced with adversity. Your determination is the driving force behind your achievements

and your desire to keep going for more. It is a quality that inspires those around you too. I have

seen how your determination can rub off on the people around you too. Helping other find the

motivation they need to hard work.

Question 4) What do you honestly believe are my biggest flaws or weaknesses and why?

Answer: I believe that your biggest potential weakness is your tendency to jump to conclusions.

While your decisiveness is often seen as a strength, there are moments when it has led to

premature judgments and decisions. I think it is hard for you at times to remember that most

situations are never straightforward as they may appear. Keeping that in mind will help you not

be disappointed or shocked. I also think that you need to be better at taking a moment to gather

all the information and consider various perspectives that could help you make an even more

informed decision.

Question 5) How would you describe me as a leader?

Answer: When describing you as a leader, the words "confident" and "fair" come to mind. I have

witnessed your ability to lead with confidence, which inspires those around you. I believe it is

one of the reasons why others trust in your vision and guidance. You have experienced being

under leadership that was known for not being fair. I think that it why you have such a just

leadership approach. You treat team members equitably, listen to their opinions, and ensure that

everyone has a voice. These qualities contribute to your effectiveness

Question 6) If you could only give me one thing to focus on improving what would it be?
Answer: If I was to recommend one area for improvement for you it would be to work on being

less competitive in specific situations. While your competitive spirt is a big motivator for you it

has also been responsible for causing unnecessary problems in your life. Being hyper-

competitive brings out a different side of you that sometimes if left unchecked will create

unnecessary tension. Win or lose you must learn how to live with the results and learn from

them.

Question 7) Out of the following skill areas what do you believe my top three are? (Innovation,

Thoroughness, Teamwork, Communication, Leadership, Listening, Adaptability, Organization,

Self-awareness, Ability to maintain work/life balance and Motivation)

Answer: Out of the options you mentioned I believe your top three are leadership, thoroughness,

and organization. Your leadership skills are very clear to me in how you take charge and guide

others naturally. Your thoroughness is displayed through your attention to detail and your

commitment to completing tasks efficiently and effectively. Your organizational skills shine

through your structured approach to managing your responsibilities in life ensuring that

everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Question 8) Do you picture me in a leadership role in the future why or why not?

Answer: Yes, I have seen you in leadership positions your entire life. Of course, I see you taking

on leadership in the future. It is part of who you are as a person.

Interview Guide Sheet - Professional Interview

Interviewee/Relationship: Jamar (Co-Workrer)

Date of Interview: 10/31/23

Question 1) Can you please provide some background regarding our relationship and how long

we have known each other?

Answer: We have been coworkers for two years now working, supporting the same executives

for an organization that has two major trade shows a year. We have built a good working and

personal relationship.

Question 2) What are the best adjectives you would use to describe me and why?

Answer: The adjectives that perfectly encapsulate your personality qualities are outgoing, team

orientated, and charismatic. You have a very approachable and sociable nature, which makes you

easy to talk/work with. You are one of the biggest “Team players” that I have ever met.

Everyone recognizes your collaborative spirit and willingness to work together. The adjective

that I think best describes you though is charismatic. It highlights your ability to make a positive

impression on others.
Question 3) What do you honestly believe are my biggest flaws or weaknesses and why?

Answer: To be completely honest I think that your tendency to be overly nice can sometimes be

seen as a flaw or weakness because it has led to you overextending yourself or being taken

advantage of in certain situations. While your kindness is a great trait, I think you should work

on finding a better balance between being too accommodating and asserting your boundaries.

Question 4) How would you describe me as a leader?

Answer: I would classify your leadership style as being hyper focused and productive. You are

all about staying on task and work efficiently to achieve goals. You always make sure everyone

is enjoying themselves in the process. I think that is why people enjoy when you take the lead on

projects. People are naturally wanting to have a good time while working. Your ability to

connect with others, while maintaining the focus on tasks, creates a productive and pleasant

working environment for everyone. Your leadership style makes you an effective yet well-liked

leader within the team.

Question 5) If you could only give me one thing to focus on improving what would it be?

Answer: If I was to suggest an area of improvement, I would recommend focusing on being

more assertive. I know that being one of the youngest members in the organization can make it

awkward for you as a leader at times. It is important that you do not let that affect how you lead.

Assertiveness is a crucial aspect of leadership roles. I believe that once you figure out a way to

be more assertive in a way that works for you, you are going to be an even more effective leader.

Question 6) Out of the following skill areas what do you believe my top three are? (Innovation,

Thoroughness, Teamwork, Communication, Leadership, Listening, Adaptability, Organization,

Self-awareness, Ability to maintain work/life balance and Motivation)

Answer: Considering our time working together, I would identify your top three skills as

teamwork, thoroughness, and communication. I have seen your attention to detail, collaborative

efforts with colleagues, and your effective communication skills firsthand. They are the most

apparent strengths when reflecting on this question.