Эссе в бизнес школу: Неудачный опыт | Документы, Справочник

Discuss a failure. In what way were you disappointed in yourself? What did you learn from the experience?

I was still a financial analyst when I became a member of Houlihan Valuation Advisors’ Electronics and Communications Knowledge Group. The group consisted of analysts from the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices and was formed to write quarterly reports discussing valuation topics relevant to these dynamic industries. At first I was excited to be involved, but when we finally submitted our report, I was completely embarrassed. It was late, poorly written, and troubled by large gaps in data.

failure The group had not worked together. Poor communication exacerbated an already problematic arrangement with the differences between office cultures. We never clearly delineated our individual roles, resulting in redundant work on the one hand and neglected research on the other. Our failure to develop style guidelines also entailed a wildly disjointed manner of writing. Although this was a team effort, I felt particularly disappointed in myself. I had simply assumed that the team would take care of itself.

Determined not to repeat this failure, I contacted the other members individually to discuss the problem. I was able to establish a consensus in the recognition that our group needed structure, and that we should meet via teleconference to review the matter. At the meeting, we decided to split the industries into sub-sectors with a single member responsible for each (I took wireline telecommunications). We also decided to have a facilitator in charge of the overall project, with a different member playing the role for each report. Since it was my idea, I was chosen to be the first facilitator. In this position, I acted as a communications hub, disseminating information and coordinating conferences.

Over the following quarter, we communicated much more frequently, and while the office cultures remained different, we came to understand each other. Our next report showed vast improvement: the information was current and comprehensive, and the report was well written and delivered on time. After that success, the group continued to improve as other members began to take the lead. One member enhanced our research by proposing and managing a study on the proper metrics to use in valuing Internet retail companies. Another member taught us how to incorporate real option analysis in our reports. Each one tried to increase the overall efficiency of the group.

When I was promoted to associate, my responsibilities changed, and I could no longer remain a member of the group. But what started as a disappointment became one of the best experiences in my career. I gained knowledge about a dynamic industry and developed real friendships with the other members. I learned to use new analysis techniques, and I discovered that to work effectively in a team requires not only communication and collaboration, but also a tactful form of leadership. Perhaps most importantly, I gained experience in stepping up to fill that role and am now better prepared to face similar situations that may arise.

По материалам сайта www.essayedge.com.

Продолжение следует...

Примеры других эссе, написанных для бизнес школ, вы можете прочитать здесь.