I believed McKinsey promotions were unfair
Many consultants think promotions are driven by politics. But partners make decisions mainly based on performance. They want to support the best consultants. Learn how to secure your next promotion.
I believed McKinsey promotions were unfair.
I thought that partners supported only their favorites.
You know, I joined McKinsey at 34. I was pretty late to the party. That made me highly insecure.
I worked very hard. But my work was taken for granted. And tiny mistakes were magnified.
But I saw how other consultants were treated completely differently.
I felt bitter. The game felt rigged.
Here’s how I explained it to myself:
“Oh, politics! I was never good at these things.”
Then, I became an AP.
And guess what?
Ironically, I became that (unfair) person myself.
I helped only my favorite consultants. I always had a short list of superstars I preferred to work with. And I went out of my way to support them.
Why?
Because I needed them as much as they needed me, I wanted to be successful, and they were my edge.
For example, one superstar consultant can work better than 2-3 average ones. And it’s not just working better, but also doing more insightful and impactful work. Basically, they can do what others can’t do.
They created so much value, it was hard to deny. They operated on a different level.
But here’s the catch.
Staffing them was not easy. It was a fierce competition. Other partners fought for these talents as well. Market forces were at play: Supply vs Demand.
Superstars always had multiple staffing options. I couldn’t force them to join my projects. I could only persuade and attract.
From the outside, that looked like favoritism.
From the inside, it was pure meritocracy.
And here’s the lesson:
Stop worrying about politics. Focus on your own development. Make yourself indispensable.
How?
I developed a coaching program for MBB consultants to help you achieve high performance and become a superstar operator.
If you are an MBB consultant and want personalized coaching support:
We will discuss your pain points, challenges, and aspirations. No strings attached, just straight answers to your biggest questions.