The MBA OPORD · Reader worksheet

Leadership story worksheet

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Choose one real experience. Draft in your own voice, then use the prompts to identify what the reader still needs.

1. The situation

What was happening? What did a reader unfamiliar with your unit need to know?

2. The decision

What choices did you face, and why did you choose the approach you took?

3. Your actions

What did you personally do? Separate your contribution from the team's work.

4. The outcome

What changed? Use facts and figures you can support. If the result was mixed, explain it honestly.

5. The lesson

What did you learn about yourself or leading others? What would you do differently?

6. The application connection

Which real prompt does this answer? Why does this example belong in your application?

7. The clarity check

Remove unexplained acronyms, check every factual claim, and note what a civilian reader still needs explained.