Our research indicates that kindness is not simply a nice-to-have attribute for people who want to get on in business. It’s one of the top four attributes. The public equate success in business leadership with kindness. Very successful leaders are also trusted and honest.
A third of all the people we interviewed associated kindness with successful leadership. But different regions rate kindness very differently. Of all of the geographies in our survey, the UK and the Netherlands rated kindness the lowest, and Germany and the US the highest. Kindness was also rated as more important by younger age groups.
In Spring 2023 Baringa commissioned survey firm Censuswide, who surveyed 6,028 people in 7 countries. As part of this survey, all respondents were asked to select attributes from a list of seven that they associated most with very successful business leaders. Overall, respondents to our survey ranked kindness as the fourth most important attribute for effective business leadership.
How do you rate kindness as an attribute for very successful business leaders?
Responses by region:
Overall |
Australia |
Germany |
Netherlands |
Singapore |
Switzerland |
UK
|
US |
|
4th |
5th |
3rd |
7th |
3rd |
5th |
5th |
3rd |
Responses by age:
Overall |
16-24 years |
25-34 years |
35-44 years |
45-54 years |
55+ years |
|
4th |
3rd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
"It’s really encouraging to see that those joining the workforce today are the ones that put the highest premium on kindness in business. Almost 40% of 16-24 year olds felt that kindness was an important trait for very successful business leaders. For that generation will define the future of work."
- Anya Davis, partner, expert in energy and resources
What attributes do you associate most with very successful business leaders?
Overall
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: all regions
|
Trusted |
58% |
|
Honest |
58% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
37% |
|
Kind |
34% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
32% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
28% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
17% |
Australia
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: Australia
|
Trusted |
62% |
|
Honest |
61% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
42% |
|
Kind |
27% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
40% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
26% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
12% |
Germany
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: Germany
|
Trusted |
52% |
|
Honest |
50% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
28% |
|
Kind |
41% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
25% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
32% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
20% |
Netherlands
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: Netherlands
|
Trusted |
67% |
|
Honest |
54% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
41% |
|
Kind |
19% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
28% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
25% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
25% |
Singapore
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: Singapore
|
Trusted |
52% |
|
Honest |
62% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
44% |
|
Kind |
35% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
25% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
35% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
13% |
Switzerland
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: Switzerland
|
Trusted |
54% |
|
Honest |
53% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
31% |
|
Kind |
38% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
25% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
33% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
23% |
United Kingdom
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: United Kingdom
|
Trusted |
57% |
|
Honest |
57% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
37% |
|
Kind |
32% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
38% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
17% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
15% |
United States
Attributes associated with very successful business leaders: United States
|
Trusted |
65% |
|
Honest |
64% |
|
Tackling the tough decisions head-on |
34% |
|
Kind |
37% |
|
Gives everyone a voice |
32% |
|
Balances needs of all stakeholders |
26% |
|
Does whatever it takes at any cost |
18% |
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