Aaron De Smet
Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company
Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company
I am a Senior Partner in McKinsey & Company’s New Jersey Office specializing in transforming large institutions to improve organizational health and performance.  With over 25 years of consulting experience, I have served a broad range of clients in across industries, with an emphasis on organizational culture, operational improvement, change management, leadership development, and operating model transformation. I have written extensively on organizational effectiveness, leadership, organizational agility, and the future of work.
McKinsey & Company
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mckinsey
New York City Metropolitan Area
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Senior Partner
McKinsey & Company
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mckinsey
New York, Houston
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Partner, Associate Partner, Engagement Manager, Organization Specialist
PhD
Social Psychology
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Columbia University in the City of New York
https://www.linkedin.com/school/columbia-university/
Master's degree
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
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Teachers College of Columbia University
https://www.linkedin.com/school/teachers-college-columbia-university/
Reimagining the postpandemic workforce
July 7, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/reimagining-the-postpandemic-workforce
Ready, set, go: Reinventing the organization for speed in the post-COVID-19 era
June 26, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/ready-set-go-reinventing-the-organization-for-speed-in-the-post-covid-19-era
How to make smart decisions quickly in uncertain times
June 15, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/how-to-make-smart-decisions-quickly-in-uncertain-times
Reimagining the office and work life after COVID-19
June 8, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/reimagining-the-office-and-work-life-after-covid-19
4 steps to quickly create a network of teams
June 1, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/4-steps-to-quickly-create-a-network-of-teams
Reimagining the postpandemic organization
May 15, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/reimagining-the-post-pandemic-organization
To emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis, companies should start reskilling their workforces now
May 7, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/to-emerge-stronger-from-the-covid-19-crisis-companies-should-start-reskilling-their-workforces-now
To weather a crisis, build a network of teams
April 8, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/to-weather-a-crisis-build-a-network-of-teams
Decision making in uncertain times
March 24, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/decision-making-in-uncertain-times
Leadership in a crisis: Responding to the coronavirus outbreak and future challenges
March 16, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/leadership-in-a-crisis-responding-to-the-coronavirus-outbreak-and-future-challenges
What it really means to lead more effectively through empowerment
February 17, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/what-it-really-means-to-lead-more-effectively-through-empowerment
Busting a management myth: empowering employees doesn’t mean leaving them alone
February 10, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/busting-a-management-myth-empowering-employees-doesnt-mean-leaving-them-alone
Improve your leadership team’s effectiveness through key behaviors
January 27, 2020
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/improve-your-leadership-teams-effectiveness-through-key-behaviors
The helix organization
October 3, 2019
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-helix-organization
Bias busters: Getting both sides of the story
September 4, 2019
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/bias-busters-getting-both-sides-of-the-story
Want a better decision? Plan a better meeting
May 8, 2019
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/want-a-better-decision-plan-a-better-meeting
Good decisions don’t have to be slow ones
May 1, 2019
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/good-decisions-dont-have-to-be-slow-ones
Three keys to faster, better decisions
May 1, 2019
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/three-keys-to-faster-better-decisions
How companies can help midlevel managers navigate agile transformations
April 10, 2019
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/how-companies-can-help-midlevel-managers-navigate-agile-transformations
Bias busters: Resisting the allure of ‘glamour’ projects
February 6, 2019
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/bias-busters-resisting-the-allure-of-glamour-projects
Leading agile transformation: The new capabilities leaders need to build 21st-century organizations
October 1, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/leading-agile-transformation-the-new-capabilities-leaders-need-to-build-21st-century-organizations
Houston Astros: winning the World Series with advanced analytics
September 17, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/houston-astros-winning-the-world-series-with-advanced-analytics
The agile manager
July 12, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-agile-manager
Decision-making: how leaders can get out of the way
June 11, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/decision-making-how-leaders-can-get-out-of-the-way
8 ways to build a future-proof organization
June 4, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/8-ways-to-build-a-future-proof-organization
Decision-making: avoiding turf wars
May 21, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/decision-making-avoiding-turf-wars
In our experience, organizations that consistently make decisions well use three ingredients.
Decision-making: how to get the big bets right
May 10, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/decision-making-how-to-get-the-big-bets-right
For agile organizations, getting decision-making right is critical since their foundation rests on an action-oriented decision architecture.
Keys to unlocking great decision-making
April 19, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/keys-to-unlocking-great-decision-making
Organizational agility presents an existential crisis for middle management.
Paradigm shift for leaders
February 27, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/paradigm-shift-for-leaders
Only four percent of survey respondents have completed an organization-wide agile transformation. The No 1. problem? Culture.
Culture can make or break agility
February 26, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/culture-can-make-or-break-agility
Once you have succeeded with several agility pilot projects and have a strong foundation in place, it’s time to scale agility across the enterprise.
Scaling up organizational agility
February 23, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/scaling-up-organizational-agility
Establishing a well-designed pilot program can jump-start org-wide agility.
Get agile faster through pilot programs
February 16, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/get-agile-faster-through-pilot-programs
Creating an agile organization that stands the test of time depends on its foundation.
Building the critical foundation of an agile organization
February 9, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/building-the-critical-foundation-of-an-agile-organization
The concept of organizational agility is catching fire as companies scurry to deal with rapid change and complexity.
Getting agile right in your organization
February 5, 2018
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/getting-agile-right-in-your-organization
At the root of any good decision is categorizing what kind of decision needs to be made, by whom, and how quickly.
Decision making in your organization: Cutting through the clutter
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/decision-making-in-your-organization-cutting-through-the-clutter
To compete at the speed of digital, you need to unleash your strategy, your structure, and your people.
Organizing for the age of urgency
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/organizing-for-the-age-of-urgency
Transforming companies to achieve organizational agility is in its early days but already yielding positive returns. While the paths can vary, survey findings suggest how to start.
How to create an agile organization
McKinsey & Co
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/how-to-create-an-agile-organization
Organizations are more likely to innovate and thrive when they unleash the potential of individuals and the power of self-organizing teams, says Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.
Safe enough to try: An interview with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/safe-enough-to-try-an-interview-with-zappos-ceo-tony-hsieh
Any organization can improve the speed and quality of its decisions by paying more attention to what it’s deciding.
Untangling your organization’s decision making
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/untangling-your-organizations-decision-making
A new concept, organizational agility, can help healthcare companies adapt more quickly to changing customer needs, competitor responses, and regulatory guidelines—without requiring a full-scale restructuring.
Why agility is imperative for healthcare organizations
McKinsey Quarterly
https://healthcare.mckinsey.com/why-agility-imperative-healthcare-organizations
Companies can become more agile by designing their organizations both to drive speed and create stability.
Agility: It rhymes with stability
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/agility-it-rhymes-with-stability
Companies will better integrate their people, processes, and structures by following nine golden rules.
Getting organizational redesign right
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/getting-organizational-redesign-right
After more than 50 years of trying, the search for an ideal model of the global organization remains elusive. But intriguing new experiments are under way.
The past and future of global organizations
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/the-past-and-future-of-global-organizations
Thirty years after leaving McKinsey, the prolific author returns to discuss tomorrow’s management challenges and the keys to organizational change and transformative leadership in any age.
Tom Peters on leading the 21st-century organization
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/tom-peters-on-leading-the-21st-century-organization
New research suggests that the performance payoff from organizational health is unexpectedly large and that companies have four distinct “recipes” for achieving it.
The hidden value of organizational health—and how to capture it
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/the-hidden-value-of-organizational-health-and-how-to-capture-it
To stop wasting a finite resource, companies should tackle time problems systematically rather than leave them to individuals.
Making time management the organization’s priority
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/making-time-management-the-organizations-priority
Putting leadership development at the heart of a major operations-improvement effort paid big dividends for a global industrial company.
Developing better change leaders
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/developing-better-change-leaders
To improve results from training programs, executives must focus on what happens in the workplace before and after employees go to class.
Getting more from your training programs
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/getting-more-from-your-training-programs
Instead of administrative work and meetings, they should focus on coaching their employees and on constantly improving quality.
Unlocking the potential of frontline managers
McKinsey Quarterly
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/unlocking-the-potential-of-frontline-managers
Become flexible and speed up with a helix model (part one)
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/become-flexible-and-speed-up-with-a-helix-model-part-one
Boards and decision making
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/boards-and-decision-making
Building workforce skills at scale to thrive during—and after—the COVID-19 crisis
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/building-workforce-skills-at-scale-to-thrive-during-and-after-the-covid-19-crisis
For smarter decisions, empower your employees
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/for-smarter-decisions-empower-your-employees
Four considerations for helix success beyond structure (part three)
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/four-considerations-for-helix-success-beyond-structure-part-three
Four ways communications can engage employees on the return to workplace journey
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/four-ways-communications-can-engage-employees-on-the-return-to-workplace-journey
From remote work to organizational health: 5 ways to help teams during uncertain times
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/from-remote-work-to-organizational-health
From the great attrition to the great adaptation
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/from-the-great-attrition-to-the-great-adaptation
How to reenergize your organization to overcome pandemic fatigue
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/how-to-reenergize-your-organization-to-overcome-pandemic-fatigue
Inclusive workplaces focus on management practices that matter, not fluff
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/inclusive-workplaces-focus-on-management-practices-that-matter-not-fluff
It’s time for leaders to get real about hybrid
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/its-time-for-leaders-to-get-real-about-hybrid
Organizing for sustainability success: Where, and how, leaders can start
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/sustainability/our-insights/organizing-for-sustainability-success-where-and-how-leaders-can-start
Organizing for the future: Nine keys to becoming a future-ready company
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/organizing-for-the-future-nine-keys-to-becoming-a-future-ready-company
Overcoming pandemic fatigue: How to reenergize organizations for the long run
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/overcoming-pandemic-fatigue-how-to-reenergize-organizations-for-the-long-run
Promoting psychological safety starts with developing leaders
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/promoting-psychological-safety-starts-with-developing-leaders
Psychological safety and the critical role of leadership development
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/psychological-safety-and-the-critical-role-of-leadership-development
Reenergizing an exhausted organization: A conversation with Admiral John Richardson
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/reenergizing-an-exhausted-organization-a-conversation-with-admiral-john-richardson
Reimagining how life sciences work will be done in the next normal
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/life-sciences/our-insights/reimagining-how-life-sciences-work-will-be-done-in-the-next-normal
Reskilling in the age of COVID: There’s no better time than the present
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/reskilling-in-the-age-of-covid-theres-no-better-time-than-the-present
Return as a muscle: How lessons from COVID-19 can shape a robust operating model for hybrid and beyond
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/return-as-a-muscle-how-lessons-from-covid-19-can-shape-a-robust-operating-model-for-hybrid-and-beyond
Shattering the status quo: A conversation with Haier’s Zhang Ruimin
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/shattering-the-status-quo-a-conversation-with-haiers-zhang-ruimin
The Great Attrition: Wanting the best, keeping the worst
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/the-great-attrition-wanting-the-best-keeping-the-worst
The need for speed in the post-COVID-19 era—and how to achieve it
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-need-for-speed-in-the-post-covid-19-era-and-how-to-achieve-it
The nine traits of future-ready companies
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-nine-traits-of-future-ready-companies
To unlock better decision making, plan better meetings
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/to-unlock-better-decision-making-plan-better-meetings
Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Reshape talent
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/unleashing-sustainable-speed-in-a-post-covid-world-reshape-talent
Unleashing sustainable speed in a post-COVID world: Rethink ways of working
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/unleashing-sustainable-speed-in-a-post-covid-world-rethink-ways-of-working
What 800 executives envision for the postpandemic workforce
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-work/what-800-executives-envision-for-the-postpandemic-workforce
What does a helix reorganization look like? (part two)
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/what-does-a-helix-reorganization-look-like-part-two
What employees are saying about the future of remote work
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/what-employees-are-saying-about-the-future-of-remote-work
What executives are saying about the future of hybrid work
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/what-executives-are-saying-about-the-future-of-hybrid-work
Your organization is grieving—here’s how you can help
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/your-organization-is-grieving-heres-how-you-can-help
Zoning in and out of stress
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/zoning-in-and-out-of-stress
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/to-unlock-better-decision-making-plan-better-meetings
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/getting-skills-transformations-right-the-nine-ingredient-recipe-for-success
‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/great-attrition-or-great-attraction-the-choice-is-yours
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In this Forbes article, Senior Partner Bill Schaninger provides insights from our latest research exploring employees who left a job without another…
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