*2.1. Data Collection*

As researchers involved in this mixed-methods research project, we acknowledge the potential for power differentials and biases that may arise from our active roles as instructors or trainers when administering the Achieving Styles Inventory (ASI) to participants. We rigorously adhered to ethical guidelines [23] (p. 2) throughout the study to address these concerns. We employed an "assessment as learning" [24] approach during the feedback interviews, prioritizing the educational value for participants over solely gathering data for research purposes, thus minimizing potential power dynamics. Furthermore, to mitigate any biases, different researchers led discussions with different participants, and we cross-checked each other's consultation transcripts during the coding process to ensure consistency and reduce individual perspectives or biases. We did not seek full IRB approval given the nature of the study design; however, we committed to ethical conduct, including safeguarding participant well-being, ensuring confidentiality, and obtaining informed consent throughout the research process. These measures contributed to the validity and reliability of our study, and we remained fully transparent about our roles as researchers and instructors to address any potential researcher influence on the study's outcomes. (See Appendix D for a more thorough discussion for not seeking Ethical Review; Appendix E to view a copy of the Connective Leadership Institute's Participant Privacy documentation; Appendix F to review the research team's Consent to Participate in Research script.).

In early 2022, identified participants (who had completed the ASI prior to 2020) were asked to participate in an hour-long interview. Prior to the interview, the researchers requested that the participants complete the ASI, based on their current position and situation. The researcher/interviewer reviewed and compared the ASI taken pre-COVID-19 and the recently completed post ASI. The interviewer led the participant through several reflective questions about how COVID-19 impacted their work and personal life situations and how they responded, pivoted, or adjusted their leadership behaviors in response. Then, the interviewer presented the two ASI profile graphs and facilitated a dialogue on the observations of the shapes and sizes of the two graphs and the relationship with the reported situations and pivots.

#### *2.2. Analysis Approach*
