Seventh Annual Hay Group Study Identifies Best Companies for Leadership

Top Companies Foster Innovation at All Levels of the Organization

PHILADELPHIA--()--Hay Group, the global management consulting firm, today released its seventh annual Best Companies for Leadership Study and Top 20 list. The study ranks the best companies for leadership around the globe and examines how those companies nurture talent and foster innovation in their ranks. This year, General Electric topped the list, followed by Procter & Gamble, IBM, Microsoft and Coca-Cola.

According to Hay Group’s study, the Best Companies for Leadership create workplace environments and processes that enable innovation to thrive. In fact, all of the Top 20 companies reported that their leaders regularly celebrate innovation, compared to just 49 percent of other companies. In addition, 90 percent of the Top 20 companies reported that if individuals have an excellent idea, they can bypass the chain of command without the threat of negative consequences, compared to only 63 percent of other companies.

“The Best Companies for Leadership recognize innovation is key to their future growth and ability to survive in a fiercely competitive global market,” said Rick Lash, director in Hay Group's Leadership and Talent practice and co-leader of the Best Companies for Leadership Study. “Many companies prize innovation, but the Best Companies for Leadership approach it in a disciplined way by building agile organizations, promoting collaboration, celebrating successes, learning from setbacks and fostering a culture that encourages a passion for innovation throughout the organization.”

Hay Group’s study also found that the Best Companies for Leadership cast a wide net for ideas and develop their people to think more broadly. All of the Top 20 companies said they provide structured opportunities for younger employees to promote innovative ideas, compared to 68 percent of other companies. Similarly, 95 percent of the Top 20 companies reported that senior leaders personally spend time actively developing others, and 90 percent said their leaders effectively help frontline employees understand their company’s long-term strategy. That is compared to only 48 percent and 53 percent, respectively, of all other companies who reported the same.

“The Best Companies for Leadership distinguish themselves by their ability to develop well-rounded, multifaceted talent within their organizations,” said Susan Snyder, senior principal in Hay Group’s Leadership and Talent practice and co-leader of the Best Companies for Leadership Study. “As innovation increasingly becomes a key differentiator for companies worldwide, best-in-class organizations are doing more to train and develop their people, celebrate diversity, reward collaboration and establish an environment that fosters innovation, creating a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

In fact, the Best Companies for Leadership consistently outperform their peers. Over a 10 year period, the Top 20 companies produced a 5.39 percent shareholder return, compared to a 2.92 percent shareholder return generated by the S&P 500.

Other major findings from Hay Group’s Best Companies for Leadership Study include:

 
Companies are better positioned for talent now and in the future     Top 20  

All Other

Companies

Leaders create a work climate that motivates employees to do their best     100 percent   61 percent
My organization actively manages a pool of successors for mission-critical roles     100 percent   60 percent
There are a sufficient number of qualified internal candidates who are ready to assume open leadership positions     100 percent   44 percent
           
Organizations are structured for speed and agility     Top 20  

All Other

Companies

My company has an organizational structure that favors quick communication paths     85 percent   55 percent
Roles have been designed to allow for flexibility to respond to immediate projects     90 percent   65 percent
Leaders at the frontline have all the decision-making authority needed to respond to changing market conditions     75 percent   49 percent
           
Leaders set the context for smart innovation     Top 20  

All Other

Companies

My company runs unprofitable projects to try new things     94 percent   49 percent
Employees spend much time discussing customers’ future needs     90 percent   47 percent
Employees are encouraged to learn in areas outside of their expertise     90 percent   48 percent
           
Organizations seek and value broad perspectives    

Top 20

 

All Other

Companies

To solve problems, leaders gather points of view from multiple perspectives     100 percent   66 percent
My company has a balanced mix of local and international talent in senior leadership positions     95 percent   51 percent
My company recruits cultural minorities     85 percent   39 percent
           
Leaders encourage collaboration and reward it accordingly     Top 20  

All Other

Companies

My organization takes clear action when a leader is not collaborating     100 percent   59 percent
My company evaluates and rewards leaders based on their ability to build excellent relationships with their peers     95 percent   46 percent
Our incentive plans put significant weight on team-based measures     84 percent   56 percent
     

For more information on Hay Group’s Best Companies for Leadership, please visit the microsite at http://bitly.com/Imm26t, join the conversation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hay_group, or discuss key leadership issues and questions on LinkedIn at http://bitly.com/HTEq8B.

To arrange an interview with Rick Lash or Susan Snyder, please contact Ben Weiss at 212-221-4616 or ben@blisspr.com.

About Hay Group’s Best Companies for Leadership Study

Hay Group has researched the Best Companies for Leadership since 2005. This year’s survey includes responses from nearly 7,000 individuals at more than 2,300 organizations worldwide. The survey was based on the organization’s response to an online questionnaire and peer nominations. Respondents that completed the survey were from 103 countries, with 11 percent from North America, 35 percent from Europe, two percent from the Middle East, 21 percent from Asia/Pacific/Africa and 31 percent from Latin America. To see the Top 20 list from 2005 through 2011, please visit the Best Companies for Leadership microsite at http://bitly.com/Imm26t.

About Hay Group

Hay Group is a global consulting firm that works with leaders to transform strategy into reality. We develop talent, organize people to be more effective, and motivate them to perform at their best. With 85 offices in 48 countries, we work with over 7,000 clients across the world. Our clients are from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, across every major industry and represent diverse business challenges. Our focus is on making change happen and helping people and organizations realize their potential.

Contacts

Bliss PR
Ben Weiss, 212-221-4616
ben@blisspr.com

Release Summary

Hay Group, the global management consultancy, today released its seventh annual Best Companies for Leadership Study and Top 20 list. GE, Procter & Gamble, IBM, Microsoft and Coca-Cola topped the list.

Contacts

Bliss PR
Ben Weiss, 212-221-4616
ben@blisspr.com