Tuesday 2 April 2013

Leading as a Coach 1: Winning the talent

Peter is sitting in a lobby of a renowned bank in the Netherlands. He is only 22, but he is a definite high potential, and he is invited for an interview with one of the directors of the bank. Annoyingly though the director is 35 minutes late, and when he arrives he invites Peter in with a big smile. The director doesn’t bother to give any excuses and arrogantly sits down behind his big desk. Upon which Peter asks him why he is late and why he had to sit in the lobby for over half an hour without being given any information. The director answers him: ‘well youngman, I am a director of a big bank, these things happen.’ Big smile. Peter briefly assesses the situation, gets up and politely takes leave with the following words: ‘Well, many thanks for your kind invitation, but I am quite sure that I won’t fit in well in your organization.’ 5 minutes later, 3500 young professionals in the Netherlands have read what Peter has just experienced at a bank that prides itself for being an innovative and top-notch company…