I pushed back McKinsey partners a lot
Consultants often wrongly believe they have to push back their partners. But that is counterproductive. It destroys trust and relationships. Instead, learn to negotiate effectively.
I used to push back McKinsey partners a lot.
I believed that pushing back was the pinnacle of the consulting profession. I don’t know where I picked up that misconception.
It always looked quite badass when high performers were doing it.
And I tried to mindlessly copy them.
This behavior peaked when I was a high-performing manager. There were times when I would openly challenge partners, pointing out their flawed ideas, hinting that their contributions were not helpful and even damaging.
I felt pretty good about myself.
But I didn't understand one important thing:
Pushing back is counterproductive.
It destroys trust and relationships.
Nobody likes being pushed back.
And partners are no different.
They may pretend they’re okay with it, but they’re not. Believe me.
If you ask me, I don’t even remember what issues and topics I was pushing back on.
But I remember every relationship I destroyed.
Actually, those relationships could have been very helpful in my career progression.
Pick your battles. Don't make enemies.
Don’t push back.
Negotiate.
Find a way to convey your point without antagonizing others. This skill will make you more successful in consulting and in life overall.
If you want to learn how to negotiate scope and priorities with your partners, read this post: Manage scope effectively to stay productive.
If you are an MBB consultant and want to improve your performance, this is where I can help you.
The consulting journey is complex and treacherous. Walking it alone is extremely difficult.
It’s helpful to have the support of someone experienced (me, wink wink) who has gone through this journey and helped many others.
That is why I developed a coaching program for MBB consultants to help you achieve high performance and become successful.
If you are an MBB consultant and sick of struggling with performance and development, I would like to speak with you.
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Read this post to learn more about the Hero’s Journey coaching program.
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- active MBB consultants (generalists);
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You joined MBB Consulting to radically change your career. That is why you can't afford to fail and waste your time.
This narrow specialization allows me to provide highly precise and practical advice to transform and accelerate time to impact.
PS: Consultants often believe they must push back partners, especially when the scope is added or expanded. But it’s actually quite counterproductive. It destroys trust and relationships. Instead, learn to negotiate effectively.