As per my 2024 new years resolutions, I am fortunate to have some awesome professional mentors.

Oli Hawes, Mott MacDonald Digital Ventures Unit General Manager, has been helping me for quite a while now.

Much of my career before joining Mott MacDonald had been in relatively small teams, and working within infrastructure businesses (i.e. within client organisations).

I asked Oli for some help learning how to be successful in a relatively large global consultancy. Oli being an excellent person to ask having done exactly this helping Mott MacDonald build it’s digital offering through Smart Infrastrucutre and Digital Ventures.

A useful conceptual model Oli shared with me is that big strategic work often falls into 3 phases:

At first, the basic concept of what you’re trying to do is usually fairly simple. The idea itself often comes easily.

Then, when you start getting into the work thing’s become complicated. Often things become bewilderingly complex - anything slightly tangential to the subject can be considered. It’s very easy to become lost in the detail. Others, when trying to help can bring more complexity, attaching their ideas to yours.

One of the biggest factors that determine success is the ability to transition from that complexity, back into simplicity.

Why this matters

Considering the longer term, this is about stepping back from the detail and working out what’s really important, and making that the focus.

In the shorter term it can be as simple as prioritising effort to be most effective in a given moment.

The key is to be mindful of the ever expanding complexity in the middle - and to deliberately focus on getting back to a simple overall point for whatever it is that you’re trying to achive.

Thanks!

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