Our research indicates that kindness isn’t simply a matter of ethics – it’s a no-nonsense business issue too. If your firm is considered kind, it is likely to have stronger growth than a firm considered unkind.
For these calculations we are using companies’ earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). 47% of companies considered kind doubled their EBITDA in the decade to 2022. Just 35% of unkind companies did.
"This strong, clear correlation demonstrates that being kind isn’t a well-meaning but woolly aim – there are clear business reasons to ensure your firm is kind, and is perceived to be kind."
Anya Davis, Baringa
In almost all circumstances, kind companies outperform unkind ones.
34% of companies considered unkind experienced negative EBITDA growth over the decade to 2022. Just 28% of kind companies did.
No matter which way you cut the data, kind firms are more likely to enjoy higher performance.
We consider 5% annual EBITDA growth to be a minimum benchmark for almost any firm. Companies considered kind are significantly more likely to achieve this.
"Kindness is not the sole criterion for business success, and some unkind firms can thrive. But if your company is considered kind it is more likely to enjoy stronger growth.
"This suggests a lesson for business leaders: when setting strategies, ensure you weigh up kindness and the perception of kindness, alongside ‘harder’ business metrics such as cost, price and margin.
"Alternatively, kindness can be used as a lens to challenge business decisions. Once you have provisionally decided on a course of action, take a step back and ask whether that course of action is also kind. If it is not, amend or reconsider."
- Anya Davis, partner, expert in energy and resources
Methodology
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 name a company they considered “kind” and a company they considered “unkind”.
Baringa then gathered EBITDA data for the period 2013-2022 for all these companies where it was able to find such verifiable, public, published information.
Our findings show a strong correlation between kindness and relative strength of EBITDA growth but the precise causation is a matter for debate.
EBITDA performance figures
|
EBITDA performance |
Companies perceived to be kind |
Companies perceived to be unkind |
|
Extremely well performing |
50% |
36% |
|
Well performing |
6% |
4% |
|
Moderately well performing |
3% |
6% |
|
Fairly well performing |
4% |
10% |
|
Poorly-performing |
7% |
7% |
|
underperforming |
29% |
36% |
Performance criteria referenced in the above table were based on the following categories, which Baringa created for the purposes of simplicity:
- Greater than 80% EBITDA growth over the decade, the company is extremely well performing
- Between 60% and 80%, the company is well performing
- Between 40% and 60%, the company is moderately well performing
- Between 20% and 40%, the company is fairly well performing
- Between 1% and 20%, the company is poorly performing - Below 1%, the company is underperforming
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