'You must be proud of being average in an MBB firm...' partners like to say
Partners will tell you getting average rating is a big achievement. But why you don't feel like a winner? Actually, you hate being average. Let's discuss why it happens and what you can do about it.
‘You must be proud of being average in an MBB firm.’
You will hear partners say these words to you.
But why don’t you feel very proud?
What they don't tell you is that for average performance, you get
↳ average treatment
↳ limited opportunities
↳ mediocre experiences
↳ flatter career trajectories
How do I know this?
I went through this journey myself.
I joined McKinsey at 34 as an experienced hire. My first two years were extremely difficult, to put it mildly.
You know, despite my struggles, I was an okay-ish consultant. I even occasionally received higher ratings.
But deep down, I knew I wasn't safe.
One bad project could derail my case.
I always felt vulnerable and replaceable. Like a non-playing character, commodity, or extra capacity, but not very essential.
I wasn’t the first in line for the most exciting project opportunities, and I always struggled to get what I wanted. It felt like I was barely keeping afloat.
Here's the thing:
Being average is especially uncomfortable in MBB firms.
They are the ultimate meritocracies. They are highly competitive.
They disproportionately reward high performers.
This environment forces consultants to believe they are not smart enough for this. I guess this is a twisted way to keep people motivated and always on their toes. It works very well for insecure overachievers like all of us in consulting.
Many people settle for average and don’t believe they can do better.
But it's much easier to achieve than you think.
It's more of a matter of the right coaching rather than unique talents and intrinsics.
But quality coaching is not always available for you.
Your managers and partners are preoccupied with their own survival. They don't have time to coach you, at least not at the level and intensity you need.
That is why I developed a coaching program for MBB consultants to help you achieve high performance and become successful.
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.
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.