Each year’s selection committee agrees upon the criteria to be used in evaluating finalists. Since 1993, most of the following 11 elements have been in general use recognizing that from year to year committees have emphasized some more than others in reaching their final decision.
- Courage
- Leadership
- Vision
- Demonstrable impact on company, industry and business in general
- External benchmarks: Customer value and shareholder value created
- Innovativeness
- Moral dimension, personal character (Is there a coherent “higher” purpose?)
- CEO respect/beacon of excellence/reputation
- Degree of difficulty
- Sustained performance
- Employee engagement, leadership development and internal people processes