What does the head of McKinsey & Company, one of the world’s most prestigious consulting firms, say is essential to leading high-performing teams?
Humor.
“A little levity — a joke at your own expense, a lighthearted moment — can go a long way toward building trust, breaking down barriers, and democratizing the team room,” Bob Sternfels, McKinsey’s global managing partner and chair of the firm’s board of directors, told Business Insider in a an email last month.
Founded in 1926, McKinsey is approaching its 100th year in business. Sternfels, who was first elected by the firm’s senior partners to lead it in 2021, said that while the firm might look and sound different than when it started, its mission and values have remained.
He was reelected for a second three-year term in 2024 and heads the firm’s 40,000 employees around the globe, a 10% reduction from 18 months prior.
In addition to humor, one simple tool he uses to get employees to open up when he visits the firm’s offices around the world is walking.
“I like to invite small groups of colleagues on walks whenever I visit one of our offices — it’s a great way to get moving and hear what’s really on people’s minds,” he said.
He also said he likes to join in on fun traditions that colleagues invite him to, like mochi-making in Tokyo, a hot wing challenge in Phoenix, and karaoke in Manila. Participating in these activities helps set a good tone before a town hall, he said, adding, “A little vulnerability on my part helps people open up.”
Sternfels is leading McKinsey as the consulting industry faces disruption brought on by AI, and the global economy faces major changes.
A spokesperson for the firm said in May that AI was driving new levels of productivity and that it planned to hire thousands of new consultants this year.
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Sternfels said he’s drilling down on three main issues in 2025. (“If you know anything about McKinsey consultants, you’ll know we rarely have a single answer,” he wrote.) They are: distinctive impact with clients, unrivaled employee development, and staying global as a firm.
He said McKinsey was committed to professional development, noting Time magazine ranked it the “best company for future leaders” two years in a row.
“We’re also not shying away from continuing to build a diverse meritocracy. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from — it only matters what you’ve got,” he wrote.
As for what he sees as the biggest growth areas looking forward, he said many CEOs are trying to navigate shifting trade policy and supply chain issues, and that “building a musical around geopolitics” is essential for this moment.
Capturing the productivity gains of AI remains top of mind, and it’s clear that just incorporating the technology won’t be enough.
“Companies will have to really rewire their organizations to fully benefit,” he said of AI.
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