I admit it. I have a leader crush on Arkadi Kuhlmann, the founder of ING Direct.
I have gushed about Arkadi previously when he was interviewed for Corner Office in the NY Times. I became a fan then. But now I’m reading about him in Mavericks at Work and I am an evangelist.
Here are some highlights from Arkadi’s service as CEO of ING:
- He recruited from outside the banking industry to infuse the industry with fresh ideas to combat those of grizzled veterans.
- He painted a white line outside the headquarters so employees know that crossing it signifies leaving the sleepy world to enter a different kind of place.
- He posted a sign above the exit for employees to read before they leave “Did today really matter?”
- He asked his associates (he didn’t call them employees) to vote yearly whether he should serve them as CEO for another year – he never wanted to serve as the leader unless they wanted him to.
- He prided himself on constantly raising the bar for the company. He says “It’s not about getting people stressed. It’s about getting them full of conviction.”
- He says, “We keep increasing the intensity, the passion, the goals. It’s very hard to work here and not ask yourself, ‘Am I up for this or not?’”
Who wouldn’t want to work at a place that tramples mediocrity like that?
As a leader, what can we do to inspire conviction like Arkadi?
- Start with your own conviction (the banking industry needs to be recreated)
- Create a vision for the people on your team (ING is going to be advocates for our customers)
- Pepper physical reminders of that conviction throughout (the white line, the sign, the orange buildings)
- Demonstrate the conviction (audacious publicity stunts, torrid PR moves)
- Ask people to hold you accountable to that conviction (the yearly CEO vote)
I want to inspire conviction like Arkadi. Who wants to join me?