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5. Theme: Teamwork – How Do You Work with Others in a Group
Setting? At X School, a team, which consists of
approximately five first-year students, is often assigned group
projects and class presentations. Imaging that, one year from
now, your team has a marketing class assignments due at 9:00 am
on Monday morning. It is now 10:00 pm on Sunday night; time is
short, tension builds, and your team has reached an impasse.
What role would you take in such a situation? How would you
enable the team to meet your deadline? (Note; The specific
nature of the assignment is not as important there as the team
dynamic). Feel free to draw on previous experiences, if
applicable in order to illustrate your approach.
Translation:
We need to cooperative, one-for-all and all-for-one students
here. Are you cut out to be one, or are you a take-over type who
has all the answers? Are you likely to help everyone get along
and arrive at solutions? (We like those kinds of students). Can
you lead others to order and synergy? (We especially like
leaders). Or do you retreat or become a follower?
This too is a curveball question. But you can’t afford to get
it wrong. After the career goals question, it probably ranks as
the most critical essay you write. Here the committee isn’t
looking to see how you save the team (so put yourself on
ego-alert as you sit down to write this one). They want to see
how you can create an environment in which everyone contributes
so the sum is greater than its parts. Bottom line – the
admissions committee is looking to see whether you have
“emotional intelligence.” Understand that schools today believe
that emotional intelligence, the ability to navigate
emotion-laden situations, is as important as strategic and
analytical skills. This question is intended to illustrate this
particular type of intelligence.
Expect to shift gears with this essay. Almost the entire
application process thus far has asked you to showcase me-me-me.
Now the focus of your story needs to be on the we and how you
made the we happen.
As you write your essay, consider that when you get to
school, some team members will be from different countries where
cultural attitudes play into team dynamics. Your sensitivity to
these cultural differences, as well as to personality types,
will go a long way toward demonstrating your emotional
intelligence. For example, a team member hailing from a certain
culture may withhold an opinion in an attempt to foster
consensus. How can you help this persona make a contribution?
Likewise, consider differences among team members in terms of
their academic and professional strengths. If the assignment is
heavy on numbers, finance students may dominate teammates from
softer sciences. How can you ensure that everyone feels valued?
Teams are inspired to success when everyone is motivated and
taking ownership within a context of respect.
Remember: the team in this particular essay is at an impasse,
as most teams are at some point and time. Write about how you
unjammed the jam. Ideas: a change of scene, food, twenty
push-ups, a quick round-the-room confessional about why you came
to b-school. Introducing some process is also useful: ground
rules such as voting, speaking times, a division of labor and a
timeline, all create a method out of the madness. Perhaps you
encourage members to adopt roles – business or otherwise. Hint:
the leader or CEO in this case might be your most soft-spoken
team member. Whatever you do in this essay, be careful not to
present yourself as the one who single handedly gets the team
dynamic going.
Sample Essay Topic: Describe when you were part of a team
where the group process and/or intended outcome failed. What did
you learn?
I still remember one thing from college. As a leader of my
college modern dance team , I took my team into the annual
university modern dance contest in Hubei province. There were
five teams to compete each other for the gold. My team seemed to
be the most competitive one and we carefully designed some very
difficult poses and very nice teaming layout . We practiced a
lot before the month of the final. At the same time , I had
another assignment from student union to arrange the annual
welcome-new-student party . Since that party involved more
performers and more school management team members than before,
I had to spend a lot of time to select programs, performers and
even monitor the rehearsal . Two weeks before the modern dance
contest , I decided to cut down my practice time with modern
dance team to devote more time in preparation of the welcome
party since with almost five years of experience I was very
confident in my skill of dance. My team members had concerns
over that but I dismissed it simply saying I already had enough
practice.
The day before the final contest , as planed, we went to the
Wuhan theatre, where the contest would be held, to have the
final stage rehearsal. But that was interrupted by an urgent
call from my co-worker of the welcome-party so that I told
modern dance team to practice without me. Not surprisingly, my
team lost in the final contest the next day. But what left me
shocked and frustrated is, it was me who ruined the team
performance . I literally slipped after a “twirl”, which I
thought could never happen to me. Then I stepped to the wrong
position of the stage in a rush partially because I was in a
tension partially because I did not attend the final rehearsal
in this unfamiliar stage.
That taught me how over-confidence can ruin something
important . After that event, I reflected that the only way to
success is objective assessment , clear plan , and hard-working.
That reminded me of my father’s saying, want to make 100% sure
to get what you want, you need make 200% of effort needed .
Later in my academic life and working environment , that
principle gives me a very practical and careful planning
methodology.
Next:
Sample MBA Essays #6: Diversity and What Makes You Unique
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