"Make me a dummy deck" your manager asks you
MBB consulting is a full of unspoken expectations. You do exactly what you were asked only to get harsh criticism without understanding the underlying reasons. Let's discuss one example.
"Make me a dummy deck," Your manager asks you.
You do exactly that, but then he gets all negative.
You probably get this ask pretty often.
Managers and partners love dummy decks.
They want to align on the storyline of a new document. They want to prevent early mistakes from going in the wrong direction and wasting everyone’s time. It’s a fair ask.
You know how we make dummy decks.
You compile random pages from different library documents. You write action titles on blank pages and describe on yellow stickers what you plan to create.
But then, when you show your Frankenstein document, your managers cringe at your output and provide dozens of random comments.
They become overly critical and extremely negative, borderline toxic. They critique your work like it’s not the first dummy draft but the final version before a final SteerCo.
You are confused and feel like you made a big mistake.
What's happening here?
Clearly, it’s not your fault. You just have done exactly what you were asked to do.
Why did your manager become so disappointed and toxic in a matter of minutes?
It’s not your fault. It’s the approach.
Basically, this approach hurts you.
You create a reputation as a consultant who always produces crappy outputs, even though you were asked to do that.
Managers and partners fool you and themselves. They tell you that they can handle early drafts, but they really can’t. They all crave finished products that don’t require them to think too much.
Don’t fall into this common trap.
Instead,
Aim to produce a few high-quality slides.
On the first page, create the full structure of the whole document. That way, your managers can see the bigger picture at once. They don't get distracted by random things while flipping through dozens of dummy pages.
Also, you can bring a few good-quality deep-dive pages with some substance to discuss.
That's how you can have a smart conversation with your manager. He will understand your ideas and feel comfortable with your progress.
Don't worry about defying your manager. They will not get upset. I have yet to see a manager who gets upset receiving high-quality pages.
The consulting journey is complex and treacherous.
Walking it alone is extremely difficult. It’s helpful to have the support of someone experienced who has gone through this journey and helped many others.
That is why I developed a coaching program for MBB consultants to help them 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.
Book a Free 1-1 Consultation to discuss whether I can help you through my coaching program. There is no commitment, and you can ask any burning questions in a risk-free environment.
Read this post to learn more about the Hero’s Journey coaching program.