Most important leadership qualities?

[sachgopa2]

Which leadership qualities are more important for adcom? I am writing my essay and need help with which leadership traits I should highlight.

Thanks in advance!

[jkhousto]

Dear sachgopa2,

I am not sure you got your question fully answered, and it is a very important one!

The key on the leadership type questions is to talk about how you motivated others (can be a client, a team at work, a nonprofit you volunteer with, etc.) to change, make a decision, achieve a goal and/or accomplish something beyond what could have been accomplished without your leadership. Casting yourself as an integral part of the story is absolutely key. This is also true for the set-back or failure types of essays. Sometimes candidates describe the narrative but do not state clearly how they were deeply involved, good or bad.

I also believe that showing reflection on your leadership style is important. This means saying what comes naturally for you and what your strong points are as well as being candid about an area where you may be seeking to improve. For example, you may be a strong analyst who adroitly uses data and analysis to make convincing arguments to your team, but your strategic thinking and communication skills may be areas where you want to refine your skills. This in turn can be a reason for why seeking an MBA is a good next step for your career.

I hope this helps!

Best,

Jennifer