What the Best Organizations Do Differently

By Jeremy Pietrocini, Gallup Director of Client Impact

Gallup hosts a leadership summit twice annually for leaders of world-class organizations to connect, exchange best practices, and explore new ideas Gallup is uncovering through its latest behavioral economic research. Gallup’s Spring Summit and 6th annual Gallup Great Workplace Award (GGWA) celebration took place this May in Omaha, Nebraska, where Gallup was privileged to honor 27 elite organizations representing a variety of industries around the world as GGWA winners. These truly first-class organizations have earned this honor by transforming their corporate cultures into environments where employees thrive, optimizing both individual and organizational performance.

Three of these honored organizations have distinguished themselves by winning the award all six years -- ABC Supply Co, Inc., Hendrick Health System, and Winegardner & Hammons, Inc. These organizations have demonstrated their ability to consistently provide their employees with a great workplace -- one that fosters engagement, which then produces added value for their customers and shareholders.

Here is what these award-winning companies do differently to create great workplaces:

• They hold managers and individuals accountable for making engagement a part of everyday work, rather than just conducting a survey once a year.
• Their leaders set a positive example for the rest of the organization by helping their teams thrive.
• The have unique coaching and training opportunities for both top- and bottom-performing managers. They address the needs of both groups and offer steps to help each group improve.
• They make their mission and purpose clear throughout the organization to connect the front-line workers with the organization. When employees make this connection, they feel their work is more meaningful than just a 9-to-5 job.
• They identify key business issues and desired outcomes at the start of every initiative.

 Even in tough economic times, the 2012 GGWA winners have continued to maximize the talents of their people to achieve superior business performance in their industries and position themselves as employers of choice. These leaders understand the mutual benefit of valuing their employees as individual people and how this approach extends far beyond their organizations’ bottom lines to positively impact the families, friends, and communities of their combined 540,000 employees.

At Gallup’s Fall Summit, to be held Sept. 24-26 in Washington, D.C., business leaders will learn how to turn their companies into a “Talent Machine,” and will hear from experts and leaders who have implemented these practices to grow their companies. Contact us to learn more.

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