Unveiling My

Inner World:
Exploring
Themes About
Myself
Introduction
Welcome to my Thematic Analysis assignment, in which we’ll explore eleven
overarching themes that delve into my personality, values, identity, and goals. These
eleven themes were chosen based on an analysis of previously submitted work and my
own experiences as I’ve earned an OGL degree at ASU. The data was analyzed by
uploading it to the data organizing program Dovetail, and I manually highlighted and
categorized each piece of information to a corresponding theme. Fortunately, the tool
Dovetail was easy to use to inductively code each piece of information to discover the
themes within my former assignments and excerpts. Developing these themes helps to
provide a framework about myself that provides insight and clarify into my values, goals,
career, and relationships. The most challenging aspect of this project was gathering and
codifying all the data.
Research Process and Methods
Research Process and Methods
Continued
 My Data
Sources
A short introduction to my data sources:
My sources consist of a collection of data from multiple self-
assessments, reflections, and a post from Yellowdig. These
data sources represent a culmination of my progress
throughout my Organizational Leadership journey and
development. Each data source provides insight into my
values, motivators, self-identity, and passions. The
culmination of which represents a framework to learn and
understand how my leadership journey came to be.
Data Sources
 My 11 Themes
The eleven overarching themes I developed over the course of
analyzing my data sources are good team dynamics, self
improvement, financial stability, servitude, work life balance,
confidence, empathy, career fulfillment, righteousness, quality
relationships, and queer identity. Utilizing these eleven themes I
developed eleven thematic statements that exemplify my values and
the themes together in one bold sentence. After these thematic
statements I have provided evidential support, reflection, and listed
any found contradictions.
 Theme 1: Good Team Dynamics
Theme 1: I am deeply committed to improving skills, relations, and overall experience of my team.
• A My strength as a leader comes from my ability to empathize, show care, and empower my followers to help them
feel supported by their leader. (IBP)
• B A large part of my leadership is based on forming a good healthy relationship with my team. (KSA)
• C Quality relationships are key to happiness in both my professional and personal lives. (VC)
• D I would like to ultimately implement transformational leadership when I am a more experienced leader as I aspire to
be the type of leader who helps their followers become the best people they can be. (IBP)
• E Having a good relationship amongst others within the same organization is imperative to having a peaceful and
enjoyable work environment, something that I’d prefer to have. (KSA)
Theme 1 Reflection:
Creating good team dynamics became an evident theme as I had 18 pieces of data tagged with this overarching theme. I
enjoy my work the most when everyone has a good attitude and enthusiastic outlook towards work and life in general. I’ve
had to actively develop a positive mindset to promote good team dynamics. My strengths lie in actively listening to my
followers and empathizing with them as much as I can.
The only contradictory information that I believe is relevant here is that I am quite introverted which makes cultivating a good
connection amongst my teammates a bit more difficult than it would be for an extroverted person. Speaking in public and
with multiple people can be draining for me, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to form genuine connections with my
team.
 Theme 2: Self Improvement
Theme Two: I am committed to developing myself in everyway as a person and a leader.

• A My top value is personal development. I believe this value is the key to figuring out how to accurately embody the
rest of my values and personal ideals. (VC).
• B Personal development is something that I strive for regularly, in my free time I am often searching for or acquiring
self-help books in order to develop myself into the person I’d like to become. (VC).
• C I'm sure if I give all of my best intentions and focus towards developing myself into a great leader then I will be
successful in doing so. (IBP).
• D I’d like to be someone who is confident, organized and can create their own happiness anywhere. (VC).
• E I want to go to Thich Nhat Hahn’s monastery Blue Cliff Monastery in New York and work on improving myself there.
(DAD).
Theme 2 Reflection:
Throughout examining the data, it was evident that working on improving myself via self help education, mindfulness, and
confidence building was very important to my overall happiness and sense of self. Improving my mindset and life skills will help
me to reach my goals as a leader by allowing me to gather more insight and wisdom. Some common themes that occurred
while I was looking at the self improvement theme was that the self, I’d like to reach via improvement is becoming someone
who is patient and can view the situation from multiple angles, has a positive and uplifting mindset, and who gives guidance to
others.
The only evidence that could be considered contradictory is that I reference times in which fear has prevented me from
experiencing life. I see this as proof that I still have plenty of room for improvement as a person.
 Theme 3: Financial Stability
Theme Three: I must work for an organization that properly compensates me for my labor and efforts.

• A As someone who grew up in a household that accrued a lot of debt, I have realized how important
economic security is for the working class. (VC).
• B I have discovered that I value a healthy work-life balance, a fair wage, a welcoming work
environment, and to feel that my work is helpful to others. (IBP).
• C I would be unhappy working without job security. (CAA).
• D Economic security is extremely important to my future plans and overall quality of life; however, I do
not feel as if I need to make an exorbitant amount of money in my job. (VC).
• E I want to make enough money to have $2000 extra spending a month. (DAD).
Theme 3 Reflection:
Financial security and stability have been huge motivators for earning a bachelors degree. While analyzing the data,
I noticed that the requirement for financial stability was mentioned in five different sources which indicates how
important it is to me. I’ve been working throughout the entire time I’ve been earning my OGL degree, and each job
has provided a low wage. Living off low wages for multiple years has increased my dedication to obtain financial
stability post graduation. When I chose my major, I made sure to choose one that was applicable in multiple fields
to increase my access to higher paying organizations. The yearly salary of potential jobs is one of the largest
deciding factors when I look at potential careers.
 Theme Four: Servitude
Theme Four: I thrive when I am serving others and am helping them to learn and grow.

• A I am more driven when I am committed to a cause or working on behalf of another individual. (KSA).
• B I think I have a contribution to make toward improving the world and helping people. (CAA).
• C I find a lot of joy in working on behalf of others. (3Qs).
• D I am a fan of the servant style of leadership. (3Qs).
• E Service can fulfill us in many ways such as giving us a purpose to better the world, creating connection,
increasing our gratitude and compassion and building our self esteem. (IBP).
Theme 4 Reflection:
When I was first choosing to become an OGL major, I thought that my primary motivation was that I felt I could be a
much better leader than the ones I was led by. But after reflecting on my proudest moments in leadership, I found
that I was the happiest and most fulfilled when I was helping my followers to learn how to do their jobs and take
care of their mental health. In a Yellowdig post, I referenced my fondness of the servant leadership style and how I
felt myself become significantly more confident when I am speaking up on behalf of my followers. This realization
helped me to discover that I thrive the most in servitude to others. When finances are less of a concern for my
family, I’d like to work for a nonprofit organization to make the best use of my service skillset.
 Theme Five: Work Life Balance
Theme Five: I must work for an organization that allows for ample time for my personal life.

• A I value a healthy work-life balance, a fair wage, and a welcoming work environment to feel that my work is
helpful to others. (IBP).
• B Happiness is a function of a balanced and integrated lifestyle. (CAA).
• C As a leader, I think that having a good work life balance helps to provide a good foundation for employees
to be able to produce their best work. (KSA).
• D Lifestyle is something that I highly value as I believe in maintaining a good work life balance as much as
one can. (KSA).
• E I highly value the concept of a healthy work-life balance which is fairly equitable to lifestyle integration.
(KSA).
Theme 5 Reflection:
Upon my reflection, I realized that my view of a healthy work life balance looks like being able to take a long
vacation every five years, being able to create a routine and develop my hobbies outside of work and a workplace
culture that values my mental and physical health. Whilst I was earning my OGL degree, I’ve been working 30 to 35
hours each week which often included working on the weekends and most holidays. After a decade spent like this,
I’ve realized what I need from my career is a healthy balance to feel valued as an employee and individual. After
the Pandemic in 2020, many others realized that their family and personal life are just as important as their career.
 Theme Six: Confidence
Theme Six: Becoming a leader requires me to develop and utilize my self confidence.

• A I’d like to be someone who is confident, organized and can create their own happiness anywhere. (VC).
• B As a leader, as many people will look up to and rely on my confidence during uncertain times and if I am
unable to shake my fears then I could let my followers down. (IBP).
• C I find that I have the most drive and confidence when I am working on behalf of someone else. (KSA).
• D I will feel emboldened to rid myself of my nervousness on their behalf. (3Qs).
• E I'm sure if I give my best intentions and focus towards developing myself into a great leader then I will be
successful in doing so. (IBP).
Theme 6 Reflection:
Confidence has been a quality that I have been trying to develop throughout my adult life. In my personal life, I
have found that focusing on learning and understanding my boundaries has helped me to feel more confident in my
actions. In my professional life, I’ve seen my lack of confidence cause me to take on additional responsibilities.
Leaders need to be confident in their capabilities for their team to feel that their leader is competent. I have found
that I am the most confident when I am committed to improving another person’s life.
The only contradictory evidence I found was data that references my current struggle to stand up for myself in
certain social settings. This lack of confidence could cause my followers to feel that I am incapable of helping them.
 Theme Seven: Empathy
Theme Seven: Incorporating my empathetic viewpoint is one of my greatest skills as a
leader.

• A My strength as a leader comes from my ability to empathize, show care, and empower my followers to help them
feel supported by their leader. (IBP).
• B I believe the world will need me to utilize my empathetic skills to help cross the line from assumption to
understanding for many people I will meet. (3Qs).
• C Empathy is a core part of my leadership practices as I found my inspiration to become a leader by comparing the
experiences I’ve received with prior bad management and the actions I would want to take as a leader. (KSA).
• D My scores indicated that I have strengths in relational or empathetic listening. (KSA).
• E I’ve noticed that I connect with my followers on a much deeper level than nearly every leader I’ve worked with. My
purpose is to use my skills in empowering and connecting with others to help them reach their goals and aspirations. (IBP).
Theme 7 Reflection:
As I was looking over the source data, I noticed that empathy is the primary skillset that I have confidence in and believe
that I can utilize better than most people. Using an empathetic mindset allows me to create and foster more equity and
diversity within any organization I am a part of. When I am making decisions in a leadership role, I try to make sure that
I speak to my followers in a manner that I would be comfortable receiving. I found no contradictory evidence for this
theme. Within one data source, I describe myself as someone with an unhealthily large amount of empathy and I
believe that leaning into this trait will help me to find my passion in life.
 Theme Eight: Career Fulfillment
Theme Eight: A fulfilling career is one that is inclusive, well compensating, and encourages my efforts.
• A I desire to be fully appreciated by my job as I know that I am a dedicated and essential employee. (DAD).
• B My happiness from completing a task or reaching a goal that I’ve set often exceeds the amount of happiness that
material gratification can give me and leads to a desire to accomplish more. (IBP).
• C I think that it’s imperative to enjoy your career as we spend a large portion of our life at work. (KSA).
• D Having a good relationship amongst others within the same organization is imperative to having a peaceful and
enjoyable work environment, something that I’d prefer to have. (KSA)
• E Happiness is a function of a balanced and integrated lifestyle. (CAA).
Theme 8 Reflection:
Finding my career to be fulfilling was a major concern and priority as I’ve been exploring potential career options. We spend
a large amount of our life at our job and as such I think that feeling fulfilled from your career is integral for a person’s overall
happiness. A primary aspect of feeling fulfilled in my career was feeling that I am an appreciated stakeholder within my
organization. In nearly every job role I’ve had I have found that I was either under appreciated, under compensated, or
both. I found no contradictory data for this theme.
 Theme Nine: Righteousness
Theme Nine: I use my morals, righteousness, and intuition to make sound judgements.

• A Responsibility and accountability are huge for me as a leader, I need a team who can be responsible and
accountable for their own work, and I am no exception to this. (VC).
• B I have a natural talent for managing goods and services whilst ensuring that everyone is following the rules
and being cooperative with one another. (KSA).
• C My drive increases by being dedicated to a worthwhile cause. (CAA).
• D My second career anchor is Sense of Service or Dedication to a Cause. (CAA).
• E I’ve found that I am stricter about rules than other people and would benefit from a job where my strictness
would be ideal. (KSA).
Theme 9 Reflection:
I have strong morals that point me to perform quality work, follow rules, and implement an organization’s standards. I
find great satisfaction in checking that previously completed work is up to the organization’s standards. I have rigid
morals which allows me to be the leader who won’t bend rules for anyone even if I have a positive rapport with them.
Other references to my theme of righteousness were concerning ensuring that my team is cooperative and feels
supported by me. I found no contradictory data for this theme.
 Theme Ten: Quality Relationships
Theme Ten: Developing high quality relationships throughout my career is crucial for my overall life satisfaction.

• A I enjoy getting to learn about my colleagues or teammates and investing my time and energy in making that
friendship blossom. (3Qs).
• B A large part of my leadership is based on forming a good healthy relationship with my team. (KSA).
• C Quality relationships are key in creating a satisfactory, fulfilling, and well balance life. (VC).
• D At work I use a significant amount of energy to communicate and create strong bonds with my coworkers.
(KSA).
• E A good relationship with others is imperative to having a peaceful and enjoyable work environment. (KSA).
Theme 10 Reflection:
Creating a harmonious work environment amongst my colleagues has been a skill that I’ve been developing and utilizing
at my current and previous job. I use my authentic demeanor and empathetic mindset as ways to get to know my
colleagues while ensuring that I am not overstepping any boundaries. Upon reflecting my previous work experience,
I’ve noticed that I never struggle to make friends in the work environment. As I begin this transition into my career, I
will have to learn how to balance this friendliness with my role as a leader. In my inspiration book project, I mention
that I must change the primary way in which I bond with others as I typically tend to bond via mutual complaining.
Instead, I’ll try to focus my energies into helping my colleagues see the bright side of things.
 Theme Eleven: Queer Identity
Theme Eleven: I must work for an organization that not only supports LGBTQIA+ individuals but also
prioritizes their inclusion and success.
• A I want to work in an ethical environment and wish to be the type of person who helps to contribute to said
ethical practices, especially as a member of LGBTQIA+ (VC).
• B As a queer individual, I will have many opportunities to help people learn and develop a healthy
relationship regarding LGBT+ individuals. (3QS).
• C I value ethical practices as a queer person who has the potential to face unfair discrimination. (VC).
Theme 11 Reflection:
While I did have less source data that referenced my queer identity than the previous ten themes, it would have felt
inauthentic to not include a core part of my individuality. When I was 25, I came out as nonbinary and requested
that my friends and loved ones utilize gender neutral pronouns. This social transition occurred while I was working
at an organization that is very LGBTQIA+ friendly and as I have been pondering over my future career plans, I
realized that I can only work in an organization that accepts me. I cannot pretend that there isn’t some anxiety over
how I may be treated as I embark on my professional journey to find the best career to suit my skills. My queer
identity is revealed the moment I am introducing myself to someone and can impact the social harmony within
some groups and the way I am perceived. However, I am determined to live my life in full authenticity since
discovering who I am and how I’d like to be treated. Facing adversity as a queer individual has given me more
empathy for others and allowed me to become aware of how I can bring about more inclusivity and diversity to an
organization.
My Personal Vision
Statement
My Personal
Mission
Statement
 Conclusion
This project gave me great insight into the person I will
become as I embark upon my professional career journey. I
was able to learn how my core values and aspirations
formed eleven overarching themes that are crucial to
understanding who I am as a person, what my goals are,
and what strengths I possess. Additionally, I now have my
personal vision statement and mission statement to guide
me as I begin my career. This project was my first time
implementing a Thematic Analysis and I feel that I’ve
learned a lot about myself and my reflection skills.
 References

https://journey.kuder.com/home/dashboard

https://msb.franklincovey.com/