What should you optimize for in staffing?
Staffing in MBB firms is extremely complex process. Consultants are often confused what they must optimize for in staffing game. The best strategy you can employ is to follow great people.
What should you optimize for in staffing?
The simple answer is to follow great people.
Well, as a consultant, I didn't follow my own advice.
I had a weird optimization goal - I wanted to work in the most exotic locations.
As a result, I worked in many countries like Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Russia.
I have to say. It was a lot of fun.
But it was neither the optimal nor the safest path for career progression in consulting.
Here's the thing…
Staffing is a very complex game.
It works like an open market of supply and demand.
It’s very weird for people outside of consulting, especially for experienced hires.
And consultants believe lots of misconceptions. These unhelpful misconceptions are being spread all the time. And they sound quite credible and believable.
That is why consultants tend to optimize for different things:
↳ Geography
↳ Function
↳ Industry
↳ Topics
↳ Skills
But, the best factor to optimize for is to follow great people.
Working with great people that’s what you make to enjoy working in consulting. You will develop very fast. You can get the best progression in your career and get access to the best career opportunities.
But many consultants chase ‘mirages’ in staffing.
As a result, they invest time in working with random people trying to expand their network. And they ignore leaders who already support them.
Then, they wonder why they don’t develop well and don’t have strong sponsors.
Instead, if there are people you like working with and you feel they like you as well, double down on working with them.
This way, you optimize your development and career progression.
That’s how you can enjoy working in MBB consulting.
If you want to learn more about how the staffing process works, read this post: Master the staffing process.
If you are struggling as an MBB consultant, 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 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.
You know, I focus on a very narrow segment:
- active MBB consultants (generalists);
- experienced hires;
- post-MBA or post-PhD;
- in their 30s;
- second-year consultants (>12 months tenure);
- in good standing (not negative rating);
You joined MBB Consulting to radically change your career. You can't afford to fail and waste your time.
This narrow specialization allows me to provide very precise and tangible advice to these consultants to accelerate time to impact.
P.S. Staffing is a very complex process in MBB consulting. The best strategy is to optimize to follow great people. In this case, you will have the best development and can enjoy working in consulting.