How to OWN Your Work - Ex-McKinsey on Extreme Ownership

Summary

In this video, Hinrich discusses the importance of ownership in professional work, especially in consulting. He introduces the concept of the 'Board Member Test,' encouraging professionals to ensure their work is of the highest quality before sharing it. Through real-life examples, Hinrich illustrates the consequences of not fully owning tasks, such as waiting for approvals or failing to resolve problems independently. He emphasizes that taking full responsibility, even for seemingly minor tasks, is key to professional growth. The video serves as a valuable lesson for consultants on how to take ownership and deliver high-quality results consistently.

Takeaways

• 😀 Taking ownership of your work is essential for success in consulting, especially during your early career.
• 😀 The 'Board Member Test' helps ensure your deliverables meet high standards by imagining them being sent directly to a client’s board member without internal review.
• 😀 Always ask yourself: 'Am I comfortable sending this work to a client with my name on it without further review?' This helps you assess your ownership and quality.
• 😀 It's crucial to take initiative when things go wrong, such as solving logistical issues on your own rather than passing them back to your Project Lead.
• 😀 High-quality work and deliverables, including documents and presentations, reflect your commitment to ownership and professionalism.
• 😀 Don’t wait passively for feedback—follow up promptly, especially for time-sensitive tasks like sending a follow-up email to clients.
• 😀 If you don’t receive feedback from your manager, assume responsibility to move forward and get the task done on time.
• 😀 Ownership is about taking full responsibility for the success of the task, not just following instructions blindly.
• 😀 Developing the habit of assuming ownership early in your career is vital for progression from a junior consultant to a more senior role.
• 😀 Embrace ownership as part of your professional identity. The more you own your work, the better your career will progress in consulting.
• 😀 Mistakes often happen when you don’t fully own a task—take the initiative to fix problems, rather than waiting for someone else to address them.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video is the importance of ownership in professional work, particularly in consulting. It emphasizes how consultants should take full responsibility for their tasks and deliverables to ensure high-quality results.

What is the 'Board Member Test'?

The 'Board Member Test' is a standard for assessing whether a deliverable is of high quality. It involves asking yourself if you're comfortable sending the work directly to a client’s board member with your name on it, without needing any further review or revisions.

How does the 'Board Member Test' help in improving ownership?

The test encourages individuals to hold themselves accountable for the quality of their work, ensuring that they do not pass the responsibility to others when it’s their duty to produce high-quality deliverables.

What mistake did the junior consultant make in the example about securing the team room?

The junior consultant did not take full ownership of the task of securing the team room. Instead of solving the issue independently, they passed the responsibility back to the project lead, which demonstrated a lack of proactive ownership.

How can someone demonstrate ownership in logistical tasks?

By taking full responsibility for the task, following through on potential challenges, and not simply passing the task to someone else. This includes actively solving problems, even if it means overcoming obstacles on your own.

What lesson can be learned from the situation involving the follow-up email to the client?

The lesson is that you should not wait for approval when it comes to time-sensitive tasks. If the project lead is delayed in responding, you should take the initiative to send the email yourself to avoid confusion or dissatisfaction from the client.

What does the speaker say about sending follow-up emails after client meetings?

The speaker emphasizes that follow-up emails should be sent as soon as possible, ideally on the same day or at the latest, the next day. Delaying the email leads to a lack of professionalism and can cause dissatisfaction with the client.

Why is it important to develop a habit of ownership early in your career?

Developing a habit of ownership early in your career is crucial because it helps you graduate from a junior position to a more senior role. It demonstrates accountability, proactivity, and responsibility, which are highly valued in consulting and other professional settings.

What does the speaker recommend if you don’t receive feedback on your work in time?

The speaker recommends taking the initiative to follow up with the person who needs to provide feedback, or even sending the work without waiting for their approval if it’s crucial for the success of the task.

How does taking ownership affect the quality of work produced?

Taking ownership leads to a higher quality of work because it involves being fully invested in the success of the task. When you own your work, you're more likely to ensure it meets the highest standards and avoid mistakes that might arise from a lack of attention or care.