Section 1: Reflections

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

In the interviews for my previous course, specifically OGL 220, the content was solely
focused on feedback about my interpersonal abilities. Because interpersonal skills pervade every
aspect of life, both interviews conducted for this assignment had a light focus on how I interact
with others, but had a more refined focus overall. My goals for each interview were actually a
little bit different since they were conducted with two different people from two different areas
of my life: my husband and my manager.

My first interview was conducted with my current manager. How I perform and interact
with others at work is very important to me, so I used this opportunity to focus on my skills,
abilities, and perceptions in the workplace. I have learned that perception is everything and my
goal is to learn to align my self-perception with the way others perceive me. Conducting this
interview provided me with some ideas of how I could align these perceptions in my workplace.

My second interview was conducted with my husband. I asked him questions that
pertained more to our life together, our goals, and some of the things we are working on in our
marriage right now. I was also curious to see if his perception of me was aligned with the
perception other people have of me.

Overall, my goal from these interviews was to address areas in my life where I feel
personal development is needed.

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

Mostly I learned that I need to gain self-confidence, that I am true to myself because
people see the same or similar qualities in me, and that I still need to work on communication.

Both my manager and my husband mentioned my lack of self confidence. This has been
something that has been consistent throughout my interviews during my degree program. While
people see a certain degree of self confidence in me, they can also see the certain degree of lack
of self confidence. This is something I’m working personally. I’m working on building up my
core beliefs about myself and am learning how to overcome some childhood emotional trauma
that is the cause of negative core beliefs. One day I would like my self-confidence rating to be a 9
or a 10.
 I was happy to learn that both my manager and my husband see similar qualities in me.
For example, my ability to build relationships with people, my values of caring about others, and
strength as a leader. I feel that because they can identify the same or similar characteristics of
me that I am living authentically, or as authentically as I can at the moment. Being authentic is
important to me and I want my values and core beliefs to align with what others see in my and
how they see me living my life.

Finally, just like my self confidence, I can see that I still need to work on communication.
With my husband, though I’ve come a long way from where we started, I still need to focus on
my tone and attitudes towards him. I think that this even comes up in my work life a little bit as
well. One thing my manager has told me consistently is that I need to stop having explanations
when I’m giving feedback. This is something I really want to overcome and have her develop a
new and different opinion about me towards it. Mostly, I’m tired of hearing about it, but I also
think it affects her perception of me. Being able to respond appropriately to feedback is an
important part of communication between my manager and I. So, this is something I would
really like to master.

Overall, I was able to find places that I still need to develop personally. I was also able to
gain a little bit of confidence from having this conversation with my manager and know where I
stand with her. I was happy to find that overall there is a perception, from myself and others,
that I have good interpersonal skills, that I care about others, and that I work well with my team.

Were there any surprising results from your interviews? Explain?

I was both surprised and not surprised to hear that my manager still perceives a problem
with me accepting feedback. This is something that I’m really working to overcome, so it is
frustrating to still hear about it. However, I will continue to work towards overcoming this flaw
in my work relationship and will one day be the master of accepting feedback.

I was also both surprised and happy to hear my husband say that I am happier than I
was a few years ago. I’ve tried to make changes in my life to become a more content, positive,
and happy person and I think its working!

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.)?

I don’t think I will think differently after these interviews, but I will continue to self-
monitor myself in the areas where I still need work. Personal development is something that
plays a huge role in my life, and I’ve learned to accept constructive criticism with grace over the
past few years. Being able to do this has helped me be able to evaluate where I need change in
my life.

I fully intend to act on the things that I feel this interview determined as “areas that still
need improvement”. I want to become a better version of myself all the time and fit in as I need
to, where I need to. If I need to become more happy and positive for work and my home life, I
will find what is holding me back. If I need to learn to communicate better, I will monitor my
tone more and implement the communication strategies I have learned about in this program.
And if I need to get better at accepting feedback, I will learn how to nod and smile.

Overall, this interview has given me a clear picture of my relationship not only with the
people in the interviews, but my relationship with others as well. How I develop relationships
with others is very important to me. So, I will continue to work on building positive
relationships with others and strive every day to align my values with my lifestyle. This way, I
can live a more authentic and meaningful life.
Section 2: Interview Guide Sheets

Interview # 1

Person Interviewed: Kristen

Relationship: Previously a co-worker, now my Manager

Preface to this interview: Kristen was a shift supervisor who transferred to my previous
Starbucks location. Shortly after transferring she was promoted to an Assistant Store Manager
in which she spent a year training to become the manager of her own store. When an
opportunity opened up for her to have her own store, I left my store (with her) to join her team.

Questions:

1. When you think about me, what are some adjectives or phrases that come to mind that are
good descriptions?

Friendly, happy, determined, to-the-point. You seem to get along with everyone. Sometimes
you can be kind of negative or don’t smile enough at work so you come across as being
grumpy or in a bad mood.

Yeah, that was a problem at the other store, too. People would just assume I was in a bad
mood because I have RBF sometimes. (laughter)

Yeah, and I think I’m learning to be able to tell when you are in a bad mood and when it’s
just a resting b-tch face. Sometimes when you are very focused, your face is very intense so
that can give off the wrong vibe. That’s why you have to smile! Just smile all the time.

Have you noticed different “adjectives” about me since I came to your store?

You are a lot happier! I think you are also less stressed. I mean, you are still stressed because
of being in school, but overall I can tell you are happier. You are much easier to work with,
too.

2. What do you consider to be my greatest strengths?

Your biggest strengths are your compassion for others, your ability to lead the team to
achievable goals with encouragement, and being their cheerleader while still coaching their
weaknesses. I’ve noticed that you work well with others and really try to connect and support
them. You being able to connect with each partner is really a huge strength for you. I think
 you gain their respect because of it and because of that you can coach them without them
getting offended or mad at you.

3. What do you consider to be my greatest weaknesses or areas for improvement?

My answer for this one is still taking feedback in a positive way and not having an answer for
everything. I think you have shown improvement in this area since you’ve been at my store.

4. What is the biggest change you’ve seen since I transferred to your store?

Well, we both know that my perception of you at the other store was different. I saw more
defensiveness from you at our previous store, and more tension. You were more uptight,
worried, and on edge. But I would say that I’ve seen a very different side of you since coming to
my store. You are like a completely different person. You are happier, less stressed, and way less
defensive.

And why do you think the defensiveness has gone away?

I think that at the other store our manager and some of the other supervisors gave you a hard
time. I noticed that you were picked on a lot, and I can see now that that would make anyone
feel defensive. I recognize now that when people feel supported, they will have a completely
different attitude. I think you feel supported and valued by me more than you did at our other
store…mostly because you’ve told me that, but also because that’s what I strive for as a manager.

5. Specific Core Competencies (on a scale of 1 to 10 – 10 being highest):

(Include something like this in your interview guide sheet if you like)

a. Decision making / problem-solving skills. Rating: 8

Comments: You do ask questions and for advice frequently, but you are also great at
problem solving. You’ve been able to solve several problems that I couldn’t figure out
myself. You also always step up to help solve a problem when there is one.

b. Creativity and innovation. Rating: 10

Comments: I’ve always known you were a creative person and you use this skill both
artistically in our store and to problem solve. I appreciate your creative viewpoint,
and that you come up with creative solutions. You are able to think outside of the
 box.

c. Sense of humor. Rating: 7

Comments: I think you like to joke around and laugh with your baristas, but
sometimes you are very serious. I think you have a sense of humor, but it’s not the
quality that is at the forefront of your personality.

d. Interpersonal skills and teamwork abilities. Rating: 8

Comments: I think there is always work to be done in this area, but you work well
with others and get along with your team. I think you have the ability to speak easily
with others, but I think you still need to work on being defensive in a conversation.

e. Positive attitude. Rating: 7

Comments: In general, you have a positive attitude. I think you try to see things in a
positive light. You don’t freak out when things get stressful at work, so I see this as
you being able to remain positive.

f. Intuition. Rating:7
Comments: I think you can read people fairly well. You seem to have an inclination
towards their feelings and have a natural response towards them. I gave you a rating
of a 7 because you are not always intuitive in your work. For example, sometimes you
need another set of eyes to change your floor before you recognize the need yourself.

g. Communication skills and present ideas. Rating: 7

Comments: Verbally I think you communicate well. I gave you a 7 because I know
sometimes you need to take time to think of a response to something. Otherwise, you
are clear and articulate in your thoughts. In terms of written communication, I think
it took both of us getting to know each other before we understood each others tone
in text messages. But I think that is standard for everyone.

h. Persuasive skills. Rating: 7

Comments: I wouldn’t say you are persuasive, per se, but you do influence our team.
You have what it takes to drive our team towards our goals and I think that takes a
certain amount of influence.
 i. Drive and motivation. Rating: 9
Comments: I think that you are driven. You work hard and are motivated towards
your goals. Specifically this year I’ve seen you really go after your health and weight
loss goals. You’ve even inspired me to become more health conscious! I also know
that you are motivated in school and to graduate. If you weren’t motivated, you
wouldn’t have gotten as far as you have this quickly.

j. Flexibility and adaptability. Rating: 7

Comments: I know that you don’t like change, but you are very good at adapting.
When coming to my store (a new store), you found your place quite easily and have
adapted to the changes quite well. Though it took some time, I have seen you grow
into your role here and make an effort to fit in with the change.

k. Planning and organization skills. Rating: 9

Comments: I would say that your planning and organization skills are on point. You
helped me organize our store quite a bit when we were first starting out. You have
made task sheets that help us stay on track during every day part, and are constantly
finding ways to help our store stay organized and efficient.

l. Sense of confidence. Rating:6

Comments: While I think you are confident in your job, you also lack confidence at
the same time. I have seen you have disbelief in yourself. I think that you might not
be able to accept feedback well because you lack a little bit of self-confidence. It
would be wonderful to see you grow in self confidence and be confident about your
work and decisions. I do think you have a sense of self confidence, but maybe its just
a façade, or maybe it’s not as strong as you portray it to be. I only say that because of
how I see you respond to certain situations at work. I think you are fairly confident
though.

6. If you could suggest three things I could do to improve my professional abilities, what
would they be?

Smile more! We kinds already talked about your resting mean face, so I think smiling more
would help you be more approachable and seem more friendly.
I also think there is still room to improve on how you respond to feedback. That one time Delia
(our district manager) was here, I don’t think you took her feedback too well. We kind of talked
about just nodding and smiling instead of explain yourself. It usually comes across as being
defensive when you have an explanation for everything. So just be more laid back and receptive
to negative feedback.

Do you feel like I’ve improved on taking negative feedback since I came to your store?

For the most part. There are still days that I think it’s something you definitely could work on,
but we have a much more friendly repertoire than we did at the other store, so that makes it
easier for me to approach you about things. Overall, though, I think it could get better.

And the third area of improvement?

Self confidence, for sure. I see you be confident in your decisions and relationships at work, but I
think you could be more confident and not so hard on yourself. You do a great job. I just want
you to believe it.

Being more confident in your decisions. You are a great employee who works hard and you
should give yourself credit for that.

7. Which of my personal attributes made you want to bring me along to your new store?

Well first of all, I could tell you needed a new experience. You had more to offer than what
was being utilized and I wanted that at my store. You have a lot of awareness and seek to
help wherever you can. You are always seeking the truth and do not back down from what is
right. I really appreciate and value that about you.

8. Which of my personal attributes made you wary of bringing me to your new store?

I was a little nervous about you being defensive, or us not really getting along (because we
didn’t in the past). But the more I got to know you, the more those fears dissipated. I also
saw opportunities to help you grow though, and I knew you would be a great addition to my
team. So those negative things didn’t put me off from bringing you to my store.

9. What is my best leadership quality?

Your best leadership qualities are your compassion and your strength. You are a strong
partner who abides by our mission and values, knows what’s important, knows how to do
 her job correctly and thoroughly, and is helpful. In your strength as a leader there is also a
sense of authority. You connect with your partners, but also let them know you are in charge.
You also are compassionate which helps you build relationships with others. This helps your
baristas to trust and respect you and I think that is a big part of what makes you a great
leader.

10. What is your impression of the way I interact with others?

With the team you are very proactive with team building. Right away when you came to this
store with a bunch of new people you set to work building relationships with people. You lift
the team up and make them feel supported. You also hold everyone accountable but still
show that you care about them personally.

What about how I talk to other people?

Sometimes you can be a little harsh or straightforward. But since getting to know you I know
that it comes from a place of wanting to make our store a better place…and to hold others
accountable. You are friendly with others for the most part and crack joes with our
customers. I think overall you do well interacting with others, but could be more conscious
of your tone.

I get that a lot.

11. What is your favorite thing about how our relationship has changed since I came to your
store?

My favorite thing is that I’m seeing you for who you are now compared to who you thought
you has to be under the pressure of your other store. Getting to know you has helped me to
understand you better and I definitely see you in a different light now. Working with you
has been a true honor because I’ve gotten to know what your capabilities are as well as your
heart.
Interview # 2

Person Interviewed: Jeffrey

Relationship: Husband

Questions:

1. When you think about me, what are some adjectives or phrases that come to mind that are
good descriptions?

Some things that come mind are that you are kind of grumpy sometimes, but are also
hardworking, dedicated, creative, passionate and loving.

2. What do you consider to be my greatest strengths?

Your greatest strengths go along with some of your qualities as well. For example, you really care
about people which enables you to care and connect with them on an authentic level. I also think
this is what makes you a great leader.

3. What do you consider to be my greatest weaknesses or areas for improvement?

One thing I think you could work on is getting overly frustrated. Sometimes the small things
really bother you and you get really irritated. I think this spills over into anger sometimes as
well.

4. What is the biggest change you’ve seen in me in the past 4 years?

One of the biggest changes is that you are happier. You were happy when I met you, but when
you moved here (to Colorado), you didn’t like that job at the preschool and were pretty grumpy.
Once you quit that job you were a lot happier.

I’ve also really seen you grow into being a leader. You’ve become more confident in your work at
Starbucks and have refined your leadership skills.

5. Specific Core Competencies (on a scale of 1 to 10 – 10 being highest):

(Include something like this in your interview guide sheet if you like)
a. Decision making / problem-solving skills. Rating:8
Comments: You make decisions easily and you seem to cause more problems than
you solve…just kidding. You seem to solve problems at work. When you were re-
doing the cabinets and kept running into road blocks you were determined to find
ways to make it work.

b. Creativity and innovation. Rating:10

Comments: You are creative around the house. You make art for around the house,
you make cards for people, you built that bench in the hallway and re-did our entire
bedroom. You think outside the box like a creative person. I just see you doing
creative things all the time.

c. Sense of humor. Rating: 8

Comments: Sometimes you are funny and make me laugh. You also laugh at other
things easily and seem to get the joke (whatever it is).

d. Interpersonal skills and teamwork abilities. Rating: 8

Comments: I would rate you higher but you haven’t been able to get along with some
of your bosses.

e. Positive attitude. Rating: 7

Comments: Sometimes you aren’t always the most positive person, but a lot of times
you do try to find the good in a bad situation.

f. Intuition. Rating: 8
Comments: You seem to be able to read people well and are intuitive towards them.

g. Communication skills and present ideas Rating: 8

Comments: You are a good writer. Your ideas come across clearly in your writing.
You are usually able to articulate what you mean, even if it means coming back
around to a topic later.

h. Persuasive skills. Rating: 6

Comments: You don’t really use persuasive techniques, and I don’t really have any
experience with you and needing to be persuasive. Although, you do convince me to
 go on the road trip every year.

i. Drive and motivation. Rating: 10

Comments: You always work hard: having two jobs when we first met, working and
going to school now, and you worked hard to get out of debt. Plus, right now you’re
working hard to get into shape.

j. Flexibility and adaptability. Rating: 6.5

Comments: You adaptable, but I know you don’t like change. You can do it, you just
don’t like it.

k. Planning and organization skills. Rating: 9

Comments: You were very organized in planning our road trip, and you’re pretty
organized with school.

l. Sense of confidence. Rating: 6.5

Comments: I feel like sometimes you are unsure of yourself, or doubt yourself
sometimes. After the fact, I know you can get a little anxious and become unsure of
your decisions or actions.

6. If you could suggest three things I could do to increase my sense of fulfillment in my work
or personal life, what would they be?

7. How has my communication with you changed, if at all, since we first started dating?

You complain less. I think that’s something you’ve worked on over the past year or so. I also feel
like you are more open in our communication.

How am I more open with you than I was before?

You’ve learned to listen a little bit better. You interrupt me less when we are talking and have
become more patient in our arguments. You just seem more flexible overall and more willing to
listen and respond to what I’m saying rather than just having a response ready because it’s what
you wanted to say.
8. How could I improve my communication with you?

I think you could still learn to be more patient in our conversations. Your tone when we are
arguing could use some work. I think we are both learning how to communicate better with
each other. It has been a work in progress over the years.

9. What kind of positive impact have I had on you in our marriage?

You’ve helped me grow as a person. That’s definitely true.

In what ways have I helped you grow?

You encouraged me to grow as a person: to lose weight, to exercise. You’ve encouraged and
supported me along my journey, even when things got rough. You make me do more social
things than I would do on my own. That’s important. You’ve taken me outside of my box a little
bit and helped me to see life from your point of view. Even though I still live my life through my
own eyes, you often show me a different perspective.

10. What kinds of attitude changes have you seen since we first got together?

You’re less grumpy, that’s for sure. You’re happier. You’re more passionate about your life right
now than you were before. I’ve seen your passion grow for the work you do at Starbucks and you
are passionate about what you are learning in school.

What does the difference in my happiness look like?

You’re not grumpy and complaining all the time. You just seem happier in general.

11. How do you think my values align with my lifestyle?

Uuuuuummmmm….

What do you think my values are in the first place?

Be nice. Help people instead of hurting them. Having integrity…that’s a big one.

So how do my values align with my lifestyle?

I think you live your life through your values. I see you trying to help people in health and fitness
through Beachbody. You are nice to people. You don’t steal. I think your life is aligned with your
values…from what I can see.