Weakness essay advise/Insead

Question

Hi everybody, 
I was wondering if I could ask your opinion on "weakness" part of Insead essay. I have originally wrote an essay describing my problem with handling routine tasks. At the same time, I have highlighted "persistence" as one of my strengths (as largely outlined by my recommenders and close circle). Now I started to doubt if the weakness contradicts the strength and should I play safer by describing an ability to delegate as my weakness?
Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

Thanks for the post. I do think that you can come up with a better weakness! However it would be hard to advise you without knowing more about your background. Weaknesses should be real and focused on advanced activities. I think a weakness on a basic task is not great. Perhaps something about communication to different groups of people and altering the message to the right audience. Reach out if you want more advice! We send a lot of people to INSEAD every year. Here are some other tips. https://www.personalmbacoach.com/blog

Angrierbird · Answer

Hi, 
Thank you for your comment! My background is in political science. Hence, communication and translating complex messages to different audiences are actually my biggest strengths that my referees have also emphasised. I would say that my weakness is not having a strictly quant-background, however, the essay asks about weaknesses that characterise me as a person, therefore, I am not sure that it is fitting. Would it be? 
On a different note, MBA requires some solid quant background, would not it hinder my chances to highlight it as a weakness?
I greatly appreciate your advise!

Thank you!

CrackVerbalShree · Answer

Hello Angrierbird,

You need to make sure your strength and weaknesses are also in sync with the stories you are focusing on your other essays.

Take a look at this  INSEAD Essay Analysis  (To focus specifically on this question you could go to the 11:40 minute.)

Rgds,
Shree

JatinBhandari1 · Answer

Hi Angrierbird,

Think about it this way- I do not know how to fly a plane. Is that my weakness? NO! Absolutely not. So, stating that you are not from a quant background isn't a weakness from the perspective of what they are asking.

Inability to delegate is too broad. You can get more specific about what is it that you do when you delegate, and how you tend to micro-manage or whatever it is that makes it a weakness. The reader should be able to understand what actually goes wrong in your delegation. Also, show them the measures that you take to counter that weakness. Weakness is like a characteristic staring you in your face when a particular kind of incident happens. A countermeasure is a strategy that you have developed to get past it whenever that incident happens.

Hope this helps!

JatinBhandari1 · Answer

Okay, a strong no to using an ability disguised as a weakness. 
Adcoms can see straight through it. 
I liked your previous plan though, actually address a true weakness. You might need to think a little more and dig a little deeper but I’m sure you can come up with an authentic and genuine weakness to discuss in your essay. 
You could even ask your close friends about the same. Your close ones be it friends or family will have candid expressions about what your weakness is. And considering that they are your well-wisher, it would be a weakness that can be grown out of. 
You can use this as your starting point to write your weakness essay. 
Another thing, the weakness essay question is for the admissions committees to evaluate whether you have a growth mindset or not. And acceptance of your flaw would be the first step to showcase that mindset. So be candid in your expression and take your time to come up with it.

Weakness essay advise/Insead

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards