Mattel

Need:

Mattel is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of toys and family products, employing more than 25,000 people in 36 countries and selling products in more than 150 countries. While the company enjoyed a reputation as a good place to work, the culture did not always provide the most supportive or engaging work environment. Part of the problem was that people were often promoted into leadership roles without receiving leadership training, contributing to a host of problems, such as high turnover in various parts of the organization, micromanagement, and pockets of low morale.

Solution:

The arrival of a new CEO marked Mattel's newfound commitment to developing its people. A leadership development department was created, and one of its first initiatives was to partner with DDI to design and implement Foundations of Leadership, a six-course leadership development curriculum, drawn from Interaction Management®: Tactics and Strategies for Effective Leadership®, for 2,500 first- and second-level leaders. Specifically, participants learn to handle performance problems and poor work habits through effective discussions and follow-up. In addition, leaders learn how to handle the difficult task of guiding employees through conflict and change.

Results:

By partnering with DDI, Mattel has improved leader knowledge related to the skill areas by more than 20 percent and improved leader skills in the areas targeted by training by more than 40 percent. In addition, Mattel realized a human capital return on investment of 350 percent and a return of more than $100,000 in the first year of the Foundations of Leadership program.