Speaking common sense, being down to earth and challenging are
core qualities required to be seen as an influential thinker in the field of
people strategy. In the Most Influential UK Thinkers list, there are 10 risers
and nine new entries this year. The list divides between those who are seen as classic HR
and management thinkers, those who have put one particular area on the agenda
and those who have been particularly influential in the past 12 months.
In the latter camp are the two highest entries. David MacLeod, author of the report, Engaging for Success, and chair
of the Employee Engagement Taskforce, is straight in at number four. He is
described as having “put engagement on the business agenda” and many
respondents believe his project “could change the face of UK business and HR”,
as one so succinctly put it. More than that, the output of his work – the Engaging
for Success report – is described as an “accessible and useful tool”
for HR practitioners.
Another government official, Lord Davies, is in at 14, thanks
to his Women
on Boards report. He is seen as having an important, one-off
influence this year, with his recommendations making their way into many a
boardroom and being seen as a “catalyst for change”.
The third- and second-placed UK Thinkers are also having an impact on government and business. Third placed Will Hutton, former vice chair
of the Work Foundation and now chair of the Big Innovation Centre and principal
of Hertford College, Oxford, is described as “extremely visible, a clear thinker, challenging and down to
earth” and “one of the most influential thinkers on the economy”.
His influence was evidenced again last month when he launched
the Big Innovation Centre – bringing together some of the biggest names in UK
business, Russell Group universities and gaining the support of business
secretary Vince Cable to create a network to promote innovation and investment
in the UK. His aim? To change Britain by making it a global innovation hub.
Second place Jackie Orme, CIPD CEO, is also making a
difference. Together with CIPD chief economist John Philpott, who takes seventh
place on our ranking, Orme is challenging government on issues of economic
policy and its impact on UK employment. Under her tenure she has made the HR
industry’s lead association more business-focused and a centre of fresh HR thinking. Among the comments about Orme were
“a champion for next generation thinking”, “shaping the profession in a
rational way” and “a sound and confident thinker”.
But the number one UK Thinker is a classic management academic.
Described as being highly visible, respected, a deep thinker with excellent writing, Lynda Gratton, professor of management
practice at London Business School, moves to the top spot from number two last
year. She received many votes, with people commenting on her strategic
approach, interesting writing and use of the media to communicate her ideas and
the wider agenda. One person said they always awaited her next book with anticipation, while another
mentioned her championing of women at the top.
Gratton is acclaimed for using Twitter effectively and this
year the impact of social media on HR is finally being felt. On the
practitioner side, Brighton NHS Trust’s White is noted for his great use of
social media, while for the first time
there is a blogger in the Most Influential Thinkers. Jon Ingham, executive
consultant at Strategic Dynamics, makes the grade as the “top name in social
media” and “one to follow on Twitter. He is a top HR blogger”. He is also
described as a “productive commentator with great insights”.