For the third year, Leadership Excellence magazine has released its ranking of the best Leadership Development programs in the country.
Bluepoint rated # 5 in this year’s survey - up from #10 in 2007. “This survey is a great benchmark reference for companies out there looking at leadership development options. We are delighted to be on the list, and moving up,” says David Parks, VP of Business Development.

“Every organization benefits from developing its people through some program or process,” says Ken Shelton, editor since 1984. “The best programs are designed to deliver outcomes aligned with the vision and strategy. They build bench strength–a pipeline of people who are prepared to step up and lead out when the calls comes or the opportunity arises.”

Divided into seven different categories, the top ten consultants/trainers/coaches firms are:

1. Zenger/Folkman
2. Goldsmith/Katzenbach Partners
3. Korn/Ferry/Leadersource
4. Jim Collins
5. Bluepoint Leadership
6. Ninth House
7. Human Performance Institute
8. Synthesis/Leaders Toolbox
9. Marcus Buckingham Company
10. Tom Peters Company

Leadership Excellence Selection Criteria

Considering hundreds of programs, Shelton selected 160 based on seven criteria:

1. Vision/mission. Are these statements linked to strategy, meaningful to participants, and focused on target outcomes?

2. Involvement and participation. How broad is the involvement and how deep the participation?

3. Measurement and accountability. What ROI measures are made and reported and to what degree is accountability for performance and results part of the program?

4. Design, content, and curriculum. How well designed is the program? How credible is the content? How relevant is the curriculum? How customized is the program?

5. Presenters, presentations, and delivery. What are the qualifications of the presenters, how effective are their presentations, and how is the program delivered?

6. Take-home value. What do participants take away and apply to improve themselves, their families, their teams, and their volunteer work?

7. Outreach, outcomes. What is the impact of the program on the organization and its various stakeholders?

“Having this criteria,” says Shelton, “helps us to weed out those programs that may be well intentioned but lack substance and fail to deliver promised results.”
Each top program selected receives a certificate honoring their achievement. For more information on the 2008 leadership rankings, visit www.leaderexcel.com.