EM role is the best one at McKinsey
Most consultants dread stepping into the EM role, seeing only chaos, stress, and blame. But for those who master it, it becomes the most rewarding job at McKinsey.
The EM role is the best one at McKinsey.
I know it doesn’t feel like that. But hear me out.
Most consultants fear stepping into an EM role.
You see your current EMs drowning and suffering:
- Partners demand excellence
- Clients want perfect answers
- Consultants expect coaching
It looks brutal.
They are always firefighting. If things go south, they take all the blame.
If you struggle as an EM, it’s actually the worst job in the world. You can’t hide anywhere. Every one of your mistakes becomes super visible.
But when you’re good?
You feel like Neo in the Matrix.
You bend reality to your will. You dodge dozens of invisible bullets.
But the biggest prize of being an EM is the experience you gain.
The higher the performance, the better the experience you get. High performance gives you access to incredible projects, clients, and leaders. The quality of that experience can be day and night compared to a mediocre one.
Often, the quality of your experience will dictate the quality of your career prospects and industry exit.
But how to become a high-performing EM?
Many consultants believe that there is some secret playbook they must learn. They think they must master some advanced project management techniques.
But here’s a counterintuitive thing:
As a consultant, you should have already learned all the necessary skills. The secret is doing them much better.
When you become an EM, the pressure on you will increase dramatically, and your skills will be truly tested.
If you have any major gaps, it can become lethal for you.
That’s why your preparation starts way before your promotion, whether you know it or not:
- The toolkit you develop
- The experience you acquire
- The sponsorship you build
Unfortunately, it’s often too late to fix your major gaps when you are already an EM.
At the same time, it’s hard to prepare earlier when you are still struggling as a consultant. That’s why many consultants miss the golden window when they must prepare well.
So, if you’re preparing for the EM transition and want personalized coaching support, ping me a DM to discuss how I can help you.
If you’re an MBB consultant and want personalized coaching support in your EM transition:
We will discuss your pain points, challenges, and aspirations. No strings attached, just straight answers to your biggest questions.
If you want to learn more about my coaching program, read this post:
The coaching program for MBB consultants.