Leading the Way: Three Truths from the Top Companies for Leaders
Sustained earnings growth ranks at the top of every company’s performance objectives but, despite heroic efforts, all too few ever realize this goal. Their investments in technology, marketing, new products, or logistics bring temporary benefits at best. The top companies for leaders start with the value proposition that great performance begins with great leadership–and they have the financial results to prove it!In Leading the Way, Hewitt Associates’ business leaders Robert Gandossy and Marc Effron present their findings from the largest research project ever conducted on leadership, the "Top Companies for Leaders." Using data from more than 600 companies around the globe and interviews with senior executives at the top companies, they present a compelling business case for investing in growing leaders. Their stories, examples, and tactics provide tangible, practical tools for leaders everywhere.Their "three leadership truths" define the fundamental building blocks used by top companies to build a sustainable pipeline of great leaders:The CEO and Board of Directors provide leadership and inspiration: Going beyond lip service to active and passionate involvement in building leaders’ capabilitiesA maniacal focus on high-potential leaders: Carefully identifying and aggressively developing your absolute best talentDoing the right programs the right way: Creating programs and processes that enhance the few differentiating leader-ship capabilities in a nonbureaucratic, measurable wayWhile many organizations successfully execute one or two of the truths, top companies differentiate themselves by consistently executing all three.Going far beyond a simplistic best-practices approach, Leading the Way shows how growing great leaders begins with understanding the type of leaders your business strategy demands. Gandossy and Effron also highlight the "little things that count"–the secrets that allow the top companies to sustain their success.Leading the Way drives home its conclusions with financial analysis that shows how the three leadership truths translate into sustained financial success for the top companies, and how they can do the same for your organization as well. Put the knowledge of how IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsi, FedEx, and other top companies build great leaders and great financial results to work for you.