When Dan Helfrich was hired by Deloitte Consulting early in his career, he had to square something very important with his employer right off the bat. Helfrich had played soccer at Georgetown and loved the experience so much he wanted to continue to serve as the program’s play-by-play announcer.
“At Georgetown, I said to the athletic director, “Let’s be one of the first athletic departments that streams games, and how about me as the voice of the Hoyas?” Helfrich recounted. “When I got to Deloitte, I told them, ‘This is something that’s important to me,’ and fast forward 20 years, I’ve only missed one game broadcasting.”
He’s also climbed the corporate ladder, advancing from what he describes as a “mid-level manager” to CEO, so he’s now in a position to use this experience of being true to his passions as a model for leading his growing team of 85,000 professionals at one of the largest professional services organization in the country.
“I’m always saying to my team, ‘I need you to believe that we want you to focus on your own well being and your own passions, even more than Deloitte’s,’” said Helfrich. “If you are choosing between you and the firm, choose you. I did it, and it wasn’t career limiting.”
Helfrich is deliberate in his frequent debunking of the phrase “career limiting” to describe behaviors commonly thought to undermine our advancement potential, such as asking the wrong question in a meeting or admitting you have commitments outside the workplace.
“We believe that people who are making the choice of our firm over themselves, either they or their family members end up resenting the place, and it’s not a recipe for productivity or longevity,” observed Helfrich. “As our captain, I want productive people who have longevity and who bring joy and balance to the teams that they lead on a daily basis.”
Leaders looking to improve productive work-life balances with their teams will enjoy Helfrich’s bold vision, including:
- Why people with strong interests outside your company make your company better.
- How to tap into the unheard voices in your firm to get game-changing feedback.
- The one question Helfrich asks job candidates to assess self-awareness and humility.
Resources:
- Connect with Dan on LinkedIN
- Learn about The Deloitte difference
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