When I joined McKinsey, my family and friends were anxious they would have to compete with the firm for my free time. I worried I’d have to be reachable 24/7, even on vacation. I was in a long–distance relationship and we were used to being apart during the week, but we were worried about how this new stage would affect our relationship.
Protecting my time
While I cannot deny my time has become scarcer, I’ve been positively surprised by how much freedom I have. One of the first pieces of advice I received was, “make your own McKinsey. Clearly communicate your preferred modus operandi and stick with it.” In other words, if the weekend is holy to you, communicate this to your team and establish clear norms. Ever since, I always tell my teams how I prefer to work and they do the same… it’s just part of the firm culture.
Extra Take Time
On top of that, I love the options McKinsey provides for time away from work. Nowhere else would it be possible to take a sabbatical every year. The first time I took advantage of Take Time was shortly after I finished my first year. My boyfriend and I backpacked for more than two months through South America. I did NOT take my laptop. By the time we came back, I was recharged and looking forward to starting a new project.