Handling Feedback and 'Growth Mindset' in a High-Pressure Environment

Question

Tell me about a time you received critical feedback that felt personal or unfair. How did you process that feedback, and what specific changes did you implement in your work style as a result?

Accepted Answer

During a mock case early in my career, a senior partner told me my communication style was 'too academic and lacked the 'so what' for a C-suite audience.' Initially, it felt like a critique of my intellect rather than my delivery. However, I took a day to reflect on BCG’s value of 'Grow by Growing Others' and realized the feedback was a gift for my professional development. I asked the partner for a follow-up session to review my previous slides and identify exactly where the message got lost. I then developed a personal 'Executive Summary' checklist: every slide had to have a clear action-oriented headline, and every data point had to link directly to a business decision. I also began practicing 'the pyramid principle' in every internal email to build the habit. In the next project, that same partner noted that my clarity was now one of my strengths. This taught me that resilience in consulting isn't about ignoring criticism; it’s about proactively seeking the 'coachable moment' within the critique. At BCG, where the learning curve is steep, I am committed to this cycle of constant feedback and iterative improvement.

Handling Feedback and 'Growth Mindset' in a High-Pressure Environment

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