What If No One Wants to Become Partner, Not in Practicing Law, Not in Management Consulting + "Ambition" Is Defined as Achieving a Full Life

The meme about the “next generation” not being willing to jump the hoops to climb the ladder - or even having that as a goal - is nothing new.

HEY, I JUST WANT TO BE A SPEECHWRITER

Even way back in the conservative 1970s in Corporate America Human Resources thought leaders discussed structuring career paths so that "specialists" could remain just that, not becoming managers or more. The speechwriter wouldn't have to move on to become Director of Executive Communications. The in-house lawyer wouldn't have to be developed to take on the mantle of Chief Legal Counsel. The secretary wouldn’t have to mutate into Assistant to the President of X or Y unit.

UNCOUPLING AMBITION FROM PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

However, in this era in which protecting mental health at work is an obsessive whatever the issue of not doing what it takes to climb the ladder is hardening into a demand. Both some Millennials and members of Generation Z have made it clear that they have none of that old-fashioned drive to "get ahead." So, back off and leave them alone to just do their job and go on with the rest of their lives. Ambition can be uncoupled from professional success and applied to putting together a full life with myriad relationships and interests.

Even in the tradition-bound professional niches of practicing law and management consulting there is increasing chatter at social gatherings and on professional anonymous networks about ignoring upward mobility, earning a decent living and hopefully preventing cracking up or, at least, burnout. 

PLEASE, PLEASE, DON’T FORCE US INTO BECOMING NONEQUITY PARTNERS

A sign of that is growing discussion, for example, of the downsides of accepting the role of NonEquity Partner in large law firms. Already the NEP role is standard at Kirkland & Ellis. Cravath just established it. Rumor has it that Paul, Weiss could launch it.

But what if there are not too many takers? What if those among the best and brightest who are highly experienced simply want to shift over to less stressful Of Counsel? Or, just stay-in-place but with increased compensation. 

The joke about becoming Equity Partner is that it's like a pie-eating contest. You will win that and, guess what, you find out that you have to eat more pie. Well, that humor has extended to jaw-jawing about NEP. Yes, the non-prestigious NEP slot. Paul, Weiss, if it's in-touch with the new generation, might back off from being part of the NEP herd movement. 

BUT WILL THERE EVEN BE A LADDER TO CLIMB IN MBB?

In management consulting, which some designate as a shrinking field, the buzz is about liking to do the work but dreading what is required to navigate to management/leadership. Imagine having to oversee and motivate a bunch of those who had been the smartest kids in the class? When they begin their careers they often mutate into the Barbarians Inside the Gate.

That's why there are more questions on professional anonymous networks about the typical management consulting career paths.

It is not impossible, goes the daydreaming, to go out there and start your own consulting firm. Or, how about these apples, go to law school and have all those legal career path options open up. You can become a solo divorce lawyer in tony Greenwich, Connecticut, and not have to take on the agita of managing at MBB (McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain).

Also, the new generation of the nerdy might reflect on what can happen to you on the way up. One time head of McKinsey Rajat Gupta began with a healthy sense of self-worth but seemingly still in-touch with his humble background in India. Along the way he apparently picked up the arrogance to assume he could get away with insider trading. America is the land of second chances, but Gupta hasn’t had a shot at that because he remains so full of himself, even post prison.

IT’S COME TO THIS, WITH THE LATE GABE MACCONAILL AS TRAGIC EXAMPLE

In coaching, more and more clients share their fear of "having to take" a promotion for managing others.

According to Gabe MacConaill's widow JoAnna Litt the stress triggering her husband's suicide included all the administrative responsibilities at law firm Sidley Austin. At the time he was consumed by the duties of an in-flux bankruptcy. Yet, he had to also supervise summer interns and much more.

Suppose if MacConaill had been a solo bankruptcy lawyer and only had to be accountable for that?

DUCKING BEING PROMOTED INTO THE ABYSS

Overall, the happiest professionals I have coached had figured out how to duck promotions into the abyss.

Data or the gut for your careers and communications? Both of course. Complimentary consultation with intuitive coach, content-creator, and Tarot reader Jane Genova (text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com).

 

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