- March 6, 2009
- 9 Comments
What Company Tops Your “Most Admired” List?
So I noticed Fortune gave its annual “Most Admired Companies” list a bit of a facelift this year: What was once “America’s 50 Most Admired Companies” is now (drumroll) “The World’s Most Admired Companies”! (You heard right, Leichtenstein-based businesses – this year could just be your year to shine.)
Pretty exciting stuff, eh? Sure, until you realize that the company they picked as the most admired company on the entire planet is none other than Apple. As in, the American company Apple. As in, the American company that was number one last year Apple. Not that I don’t buy it, but…yeesh, talk about an anticlimax. (Maybe next year, Leichtenstein businesses.)
In fact, the entire list seems pretty typical. (Rounding out the top 10 are Berkshire Hathaway; Toyota Motor; Google; Johnson and Johnson; Proctor & Gamble; FedEx; Southwest Airlines; General Electric; and Microsoft.)
Looking down the list of chosen companies, I can’t help but feel a little bit like the goth kid from high school rolling her eyes while she looks at the nominees for homecoming court. Or Bill Murray watching Oscar darling Sean Penn steal the Best Actor award five years ago…Do these results really surprise anyone?
Don’t get me wrong – I definitely agree that these companies deserve a spot on this list for everything they continue to accomplish in the way of product innovation, customer service and employment branding – all in the midst of a recession, no less…But I feel like we’re seeing the same companies make the list year in and year out. Am I alone?
So tell me, what companies would you like to see on this list, and why? Who would you like to see your own company be more like?
- Have a response? Join the discussion.
- Categories: Branding, Employee Engagement
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In response to why the companies that top the most admired list show up year after year….well, perhaps it’s because it’s not their product line or service quality that is being measured here, but instead the culture of the company. When a common set of ideals or principles are woven into the fabric of the company to the point it’s employees “live” it, you kinda get sustained success. Personally, I take comfort in the fact these companies can stay on top and sustain their success. Isn’t that sustainance what employees and customers want anyway.
I agree. I believe that every company strives for the kind of success that these top “admired” companies have achieved. So instead of complaining about their success why don’t we try to emulate, or at least examine, the types of things that are helping these companies succeed. Maybe we could learn something from them.
When I saw this topic I was hoping to learn about best practices, especially if they win year after year. I did not gain any new knowledge from this post, Mary. Sorry.
Your comment reads like “God, the sky’s blue, AGAIN??!!??” Good companies will remain good, bad companies will fall, especially in these times. I hope Apple is number 1 every year from now on. And what the h*ll is Microsoft doing on this list?? Oh– Bill Gates has all those billions. great.
Chris, Megan, and Mat – You’re absolutely right – these companies should be applauded for being able to sustain their success – which I definitely do. What I was trying to get across was the idea that it would be great to see new companies on the list, which would be a clear sign that – as you said, Meghan – others ARE emulating these companies’ practices.
Amanda, My apologies if you were misled by the title of the post – that was certainly not my intent. I appreciate your feedback, though, and the window is always open to do a follow-up post on best practices. In the meantime, I’ll refer you to this earlier post that delves more into what makes companies ‘admirable.’ http://thehiringsite.careerbuilder.com/2008/11/10/taking-innovation-into-consideration-why-these-5-companies-are-%e2%80%9cmost-admirable%e2%80%9d/
The companies that do emulate these top giants usually get gobbled up by them. That’s the problem. It’s like a high school clique. You’re not in unless they deem to let you in.
I’m just amazed that Goldman Sachs made the list. How can a company be one of the most admired when it’s clearly failing? I would expect, in these times, to see many of the financially-oriented companies falling in the ranks on this list.
These companies are on the list again and again because they belong there. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Southwest Airlines produce excellent products or services, they have awesome cultures with progressive concepts, they have great employee perks, etc. It’s too bad more companies can’t embrace their practices such as telecommuting (and trusting employees more), on-site day care, mentorship programs, open communication and so on. Good for them, I say (except Goldman Sachs – I agree that I don’t understand how a failing company can be admired).
Some of these companies like Toyota and Google are great examples of socially responsible corporations. They take the extra steps that make them admirable.Other notable companies include Ben & Jerry’s, Aveda, and Tom’s of Maine.