Penetrate the McKinsey mystique and learn the secrets of the world's largest and most successful strategy consulting firm.

"A breeding ground for gurus." That's how the best-selling book The Witch Doctors defined McKinsey & Company, the gold-standard consulting firm whose alumni include titans such as Tom Peters, Harvey Golub, and Kenichi Ohmae. Now a former "McKinzoid" lifts the veil to show the world how the secretive McKinsey works its magicand helps readers emulate the firm's best practices in problem-solving, communication, and management.

The result is a toolkit of techniques without peer, one that brings an expert mindset to such practical topics as selling without "selling" and turning enemies into allies. For anyone who wants to become a better strategic player or get an inside look at the high-pressure consulting life, this guide is a must.

• Part I: The McKinsey Way of Thinking About Business Problems
  • Building the Solution
  • Developing an Approach
  • 80/20 and Other Rules to Live By
• Part II: The McKinsey Way of Working to Solve Business Problems
  • Selling a Study
  • Assembling a Team
  • Managing Hierarchy
  • Doing Research
  • Conducting Interviews
  • Brainstorming
• Part III: The McKinsey Way of Selling Solutions
  • Making Presentations
  • Displaying Data with Charts
  • Managing Internal Communications
  • Working with Clients
• Part IV: Surving at McKinsey
  • Find Your Own Mentor
  • Surviving on the Road
  • Take These Things with You Wherever You Go
  • A Good Assistant Is a Lifeline
  • Recruiting McKinsey Style
  • If You Want a Life, Lay Down Some Rules
  • The Most Valuable Lesson
  • Memories of McKinsey