February 9, 2010

“Natural born leaders do not exist. Leadership is a skill anyone with enough perseverance can acquire. Especially in these times of uncertainty, organizations are pining for high performance leaders.”

This was the message that IMD Professor George Kohlrieser delivered last week as part of a tour in The Netherlands which featured visits to two leading Dutch companies, the TNT Group and Robeco, as well as the opening of the Dutch stock exchange.

Professor Kohlrieser, a police psychologist and former hostage negotiator, described the eight paths to walk in becoming a high performance leader: build on a secure base, learn and practice constantly and deliberately, master your mind’s eye, communicate effectively, manage conflict (do not leave any fish under the table), create shared goals and visions, focus on your strategy and play to win instead of playing not to lose.

His insights were well received by the more than 180 executives who saw him live in Hoofddorp and Rotterdam and some 300 TNT staff who watched a webinar from their local offices around the world. One participant commented: “It is amazing how George can change your perspective, not only on business leadership but also on how you connect to all people around you, including the people at home!”

Another participant said: “George claims that leadership changes destinies. Well, it does. My first boss changed mine. As leaders, we have a great responsibility!”

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY 

NYSE Euronext in Amsterdam

Before meeting the first Group of TNT managers, Professor Kohlrieser opened the stock exchange by beating the gong in the historic Euronext building on the Beursplein in Amsterdam. For a video clip of the ceremony go to: High Performance Gong.

TNT round table discussion in the Pauw and Witteman Studio in Amsterdam

Professor Kohlrieser joined a live and interactive webinar for TNT staff around the world. Along with Professor Kohlrieser, the round table guests included: Herna Verhagen, Managing Director TNT Group Human Resources, Christian Drenthen, Managing Director TNT Express Southern Europe, and Peter Kunz, Managing Director European Mail Networks. The host of the round table was Manfred van Doorn, Management Trainer.

Much of the discussion focused on leadership in times of change: How can leaders motivate their people to embrace constant change? How can they handle anxiety caused by fear of change? How to bring in more empathy? How to provide staff with a secure base from which they can succeed, take a chance and work towards a shared goal? As Herna Verhagen said: “TNT is a real people company, we deliver with a smile, we strive for people to take pride in what they do.” For more insights on how TNT instills pride in the hearts of its staff, go to: TNT CEO Peter Bakker’s interview on responsible leadership.

Leading Change Event at the TNT Head Office in Hoofddorp

Hosts: Lonnie van der Schilden, Policy and Communication Specialist TNT, and Han van der Pool, Management Development Manager TNT.

More than 100 executives — two thirds of which are Human Resource professionals — attended Professor Kohlrieser’s event on leading change in times of uncertainty. Inspired by the lecture, the audience engaged in short interactions on topics like: Do people always fear change? Do we tend to look at the positive or at the negative side of change? What impact can leadership have on making change work positively for the individual and for the organization? Professor Kohlrieser shared his personal mission in life. He aims to “humanize organizations,” bringing back empathy, passion and authenticity so often found in small or family businesses.

Leading at the Edge Event at the Robeco Head Office in Rotterdam

Hosts: Constant Korthout, CFO, and Oscar Wildschut, Head of Management Development at Robeco.

More than 85 executives from leading companies in the Rotterdam area came to listen to Professor Kohlrieser’s lecture on leadership at the edge. Professor Kohlrieser stated: “It is all in the mind’s eye. We can choose how we think, feel and act. We can train ourselves to look beyond obstacles, fears and pain. Great athletes, musicians and actors do.”

Participants engaged in short exchanges on their own experience in motivating people to play to win rather than playing not to lose. Martin Groot Wesseldijk, Director Robeco Human Resources, described how Robeco supports its young professionals in playing to win: “We have several development programs. Our professionals are made aware of what they do not yet master and are offered learning opportunities in many different ways. It is fantastic to see these people grow. For me personally, it is energizing to see what a difference talent development can make.”

Professor Kohlrieser’s quote for the day: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Watch the thank you video put together by participants from TNT.

Recommended reading: “Hostage at the Table,” by Professor George Kohlrieser.

Learn more about IMD events. Access Professor Kohlrieser’s biography and find out more about the programs he teaches on at IMD: High Performance Leadership Program, Advanced High Performance Leadership, Orchestrating Winning Performance and the Breakthrough Program for Senior Executives.