Leadership and accomplishments: Two very different types of essays
By Jeremy Dann
You gotta love the b-school application process. For most of us, it will be the final time in our lives where someone lets us brag on and on about ourselves—and will actually read what we write and listen to what we have to say.
But as fun as this bragging process can be, let’s make sure we brag about the right things. Some applicants don’t focus their essays properly when it comes to their accomplishment and leadership essays. Many folks view these as nearly interchangeable essays, but they definitely require different approaches.
A few months ago, I wrote about the aspects of a winning leadership essay. One of the central tenets of leadership essays is showing that you can enable the actions of other people. You bring out their passions. You educate them. You help them see organizational priorities in new ways. And then they share in the achievement.
Accomplishment essays can include leadership experiences, but there are many scenarios applicants recount in the “leadership” essays that really do not belong under that heading. Just because you did something great does not mean leadership was involved. Some people try to get around this issue by inserting the tried and true “I led by example” gambit. They write about some really cool thing that they accomplished on their own and then assert that it was actually an episode where they inspired others who had the privilege of basking in the glow of this tremendous achievement. If one of your essays portrays you as a lone warrior undertaking a noble quest until the final paragraph when you play the “leading by example” card, you have missed the boat.
The best leadership essays will have heroes other than yourself. If you helped Terri in accounts receivable realize her full potential on a project you led, showcase her as a hero in your leadership tale.
In the best of all worlds, people create a good balance between these types of essays at the beginning of their application process, even before they commence writing. The good news is that, in many instances, you can adjust your application fairly late in the process to achieve the appropriate balance between individual achievement and leadership. A few sentences here and there about enabling others, educating and defining priorities for group endeavors. Many achievement essays can be transformed into glorious examples of leadership when you shine the spotlight on others who were a part of a great collective accomplishment.
