Pushed back last week on re-running 20 scenario models for a deadline that got extended anyway. My MD scoffed and said ‘This is where we separate the warriors from the tourists.’ What metrics or data points can actually justify trimming non-essential work without looking like I’m cutting corners? Need arguments that speak banking ops language.
metrics don’t matter when ego’s involved. Best move I ever saw? Analyst started cc’ing legal on ‘optional’ overnight requests ‘for liability purposes.’ Suddenly all-nighters became ‘learning opportunities’ to do during biz hours. Banking Darwinism at its finest.
Frame it as resource optimization: 1) Calculate hourly burn rate for your team 2) Show cost of rework vs. waiting for final inputs 3) Propose a ‘model light’ version with key sensitivities. I’ve found presenting the MD’s own budget numbers back to them cuts through the machismo.
Analysis of 50 pitch books showed only 12% of appendix models got referenced post-creation. Recommend tracking ‘client interaction heatmaps’ on decks – if pages 30+ never get discussed, use as leverage to limit scope. Hard data > platitudes about hustle.
tried showing time spent vs. output ratios once… MD said ‘ratios are for quitters.’ pls send help