--- title: HOW MCKINSEY UNLEASHED THE ACCELERATING POWER OF ALIGNMENT description: McKinsey not only claims to be “values-driven,” but each year the entire firm takes one entire day to reflect on their values. image: https://www.shiftpoints.com/hubfs/SOCIAL%20MEDIA%20QUOTE%20IMAGES/LinkedIn-PostMcKinsey.jpg --- Search this site on Google Search Google [![SHIFTPOINTS - Cropped Logo](https://www.shiftpoints.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SHIFTPOINTS%20-%20Cropped%20Logo.jpg?width=360&height=63&name=SHIFTPOINTS%20-%20Cropped%20Logo.jpg)](http://WWW.SHIFTPOINTS.COM)   - [ABOUT](https://www.shiftpoints.com/overview) - [OUR COMPANY](https://www.shiftpoints.com/overview) - [OUR CEO](https://www.shiftpoints.com/dave-ramos) - [OUR BOOKS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/books-by-dave-ramos) - [CONTACT](https://www.shiftpoints.com/contact-shiftpoints) - [THE THREE SHIFTS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-three-shifts) - [INTRODUCTION](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-three-shifts) - [START: DEVELOP ONE TEAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/develop-one-team) - [SHIFT #1: DECIDE ONE THING](https://www.shiftpoints.com/decide-one-thing) - [SHIFT #2: DRIVE ONE DIRECTION](https://www.shiftpoints.com/drive-one-direction) - [SHIFT #3: DELIVER EVERY TIME](https://www.shiftpoints.com/deliver-every-time) - [SERVICES](https://www.shiftpoints.com/services-and-programs) - [THE JUMP START PROGRAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-jump-start-program) - [THE PIT STOP PROGRAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-pit-stop-program) - [THE TOP GEAR PROGRAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-top-gear-program) - [CLIENTS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/clients) - [ABOUT](https://www.shiftpoints.com/overview) - [OUR COMPANY](https://www.shiftpoints.com/overview) - [OUR CEO](https://www.shiftpoints.com/dave-ramos) - [OUR BOOKS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/books-by-dave-ramos) - [CONTACT](https://www.shiftpoints.com/contact-shiftpoints) - [THE THREE SHIFTS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-three-shifts) - [INTRODUCTION](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-three-shifts) - [START: DEVELOP ONE TEAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/develop-one-team) - [SHIFT #1: DECIDE ONE THING](https://www.shiftpoints.com/decide-one-thing) - [SHIFT #2: DRIVE ONE DIRECTION](https://www.shiftpoints.com/drive-one-direction) - [SHIFT #3: DELIVER EVERY TIME](https://www.shiftpoints.com/deliver-every-time) - [SERVICES](https://www.shiftpoints.com/services-and-programs) - [THE JUMP START PROGRAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-jump-start-program) - [THE PIT STOP PROGRAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-pit-stop-program) - [THE TOP GEAR PROGRAM](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-top-gear-program) - [CLIENTS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/clients) # The SHIFTPOINTS Blog ![Blog-1](https://www.shiftpoints.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SHIFTPOINTS%20LOGOS%20AND%20%20ICONS%20WITH%20SPEED-O/Blog-1.jpg?width=299&name=Blog-1.jpg)**Do you want to develop your executive team?** **Sign everyone up for the SHIFTPOINTS Blog.** ***Every week, you will receive a short article to start the week.*** **You can sign up [HERE](https://www.shiftpoints.com/subscribe) and receive these articles (and more) via email.** ### For more information: ![Circle Dave](https://www.shiftpoints.com/hubfs/Shiftpoints_Feb2017/Images/Circle_Dave.png) Dave Ramos, CEO [Follow @shiftpoints](https://twitter.com/shiftpoints) ### Tags - [Drive One Direction (116)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/topic/drive-one-direction) - [Develop One Team (25)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/topic/develop-one-team) - [Decide One Thing (10)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/topic/decide-one-thing) - [Develop One Strategy (1)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/topic/develop-one-strategy) - [Engage Every One (1)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/topic/engage-every-one) ### Archives - [October 2019 (23)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/10) - [November 2019 (22)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/11) - [December 2019 (15)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/12) - [August 2020 (6)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/08) - [April 2019 (5)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/04) - [March 2020 (5)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/03) - [May 2019 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/05) - [July 2019 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/07) - [September 2019 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/09) - [January 2020 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/01) - [February 2020 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/02) - [April 2020 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/04) - [May 2020 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/05) - [June 2020 (4)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/06) - [March 2019 (3)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/03) - [June 2019 (3)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/06) - [August 2019 (3)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2019/08) - [September 2020 (3)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/09) - [October 2020 (3)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/10) - [March 2025 (3)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2025/03) - [July 2020 (2)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2020/07) - [April 2018 (1)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2018/04) - [January 2023 (1)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2023/01) - [January 2024 (1)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2024/01) - [February 2025 (1)](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog/archive/2025/02) 06-18-20 ## HOW MCKINSEY UNLEASHED THE ACCELERATING POWER OF ALIGNMENT ***![LinkedIn-PostMcKinsey](https://www.shiftpoints.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SOCIAL%20MEDIA%20QUOTE%20IMAGES/LinkedIn-PostMcKinsey.jpg?width=1470&name=LinkedIn-PostMcKinsey.jpg)*** ***Note:  This is an excerpt from my latest book, [Drive One Direction: How to Unleash the Accelerating Power of Alignment.](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y2BBQQK) In the EveryOne chapter, we highlight companies who unleashed the accelerating power of alignment with an intense focus on talent management disciplines. *** McKinsey ([www.mckinsey.com](http://www.mckinsey.com)) is a global management consulting firm with 22 industry practices, over 12,000 consultants, 2,000 research and information professionals, and offices in 120 cities around the world. *Each year, they set aside One Day to reflect on their core values.* Here is how McKinsey describes their firm, “We are a values-driven organization. The values inform both our long-term strategy as a firm and the way we serve our clients on a daily basis.” Every company has values, but only a small subset claim that they are driven by them. But consider McKinsey. Not only do they claim to be “values-driven,” each year the entire firm takes one entire day to reflect on their values. McKinsey makes a huge investment in Values Day. If you assume that the average billing rate for their 12,000 consultants is $500 per hour (which is probably low), the investment is in the $50M range! How many companies do you know that believe in their values enough to invest $50M a year in them? And if you are going to invest that kind of time and money, your values better be worth it. For your reflection, here are McKinsey’s: Adhere to the highest professional standards - put client interests ahead of the firm’s - observe high ethical standards - preserve client confidences - maintain an independent perspective - manage client and firm resources cost-effectively Improve our clients’ performance significantly - follow the top-management approach - use our global network to deliver the best of the firm to all clients - bring innovations in management practice to clients - build client capabilities to sustain improvement - build enduring relationships based on trust Create an unrivaled environment for exceptional people - be nonhierarchical and inclusive - sustain a caring meritocracy - develop one another through apprenticeship and mentoring - uphold the obligation to dissent - govern ourselves as a “one firm” partnership As you can see, their values are written according to our One Code model and contain eighteen very specific expected behaviors. McKinsey says they are values-driven, and they put their money where their mouth is. Investing One Day per year to reflect on them is how they create strategic alignment. ***Would your company take EveryOne away for an entire day just to reflect on your core values?*** [***![LinkedIn-Post_LAUNCHGRAPHICS_amazon](https://www.shiftpoints.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SOCIAL%20MEDIA%20QUOTE%20IMAGES/LinkedIn-Post_LAUNCHGRAPHICS_amazon.jpg?width=1470&name=LinkedIn-Post_LAUNCHGRAPHICS_amazon.jpg)***](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y2BBQQK)   [View Other Posts](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog) [View all posts for this blog](https://www.shiftpoints.com/blog)   **Copyright © 2026, SHIFTPOINTS, Inc. All rights reserved.** The SHIFTPOINTS logo, Decide One Thing, Drive One Direction, The Pit Stop Program, and The Top Gear Program are Registered Trademarks of SHIFTPOINTS, Inc. - [ABOUT](https://www.shiftpoints.com/overview) - [THE THREE SHIFTS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/the-three-shifts) - [SERVICES](https://www.shiftpoints.com/services-and-programs) - [CLIENTS](https://www.shiftpoints.com/clients)