A recent Gallup survey reveals that hope is the primary need people seek from leaders, followed by trust, compassion, and stability. These findings, presented at the World Governments Summit, highlight the diverse expectations of leadership across different nations and underscore the importance of leaders understanding their followers’ needs to inspire positive change in society.
An extensive international survey conducted by Gallup highlights the essential qualities that people seek in leaders, summarized in four key terms: hope, trust, compassion, and stability. Of these qualities, hope stands out as the most significant need among followers, closely followed by trust. The findings of this survey were presented at the World Governments Summit, which aims to address critical global challenges and establish agendas for future governance.
During the summit in Dubai, which took place over three days, discussions revolved around pressing issues such as artificial intelligence’s impact and the necessity for governments to maintain public trust amidst widespread misinformation. Jon Clifton, Gallup’s CEO, emphasized the importance of leaders understanding what motivates their followers to follow them effectively. He stated that this understanding is vital amid the multifaceted challenges of today’s world.
The report seeks to unveil how leaders positively influence daily life by asking participants to identify such leaders and describe their contributions. Significantly, 56 percent of respondents identified hope as the primary quality sought in leaders, illustrating its importance as a motivator in inspiring and guiding followers toward better futures.
The survey results indicate varied perceptions of leadership across different countries. For example, the desire for hope was notably higher in nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia but less prevalent in areas like Palestine and Jordan. Furthermore, the survey revealed that family leaders were deemed the most influential, followed by work managers and political leaders.
The research connects hope and life satisfaction, revealing that those who feel their leader embodies hope report higher levels of well-being. Notably, the study found that among those citing hope in a leader, 38 percent classified themselves as thriving. Contrastingly, only 33 percent of individuals who did not associate hope with their leaders classified themselves similarly.
Trust, identified as the second most critical need, was found to substantially enhance the impacts of hope when combined with compassion or stability. The report underscores that trust is fundamental for effective collaboration and achieving shared objectives, reinforcing the notion that great leadership extends beyond authority.
In light of the survey findings, the report serves as a framework for both current and future leaders. It stresses the necessity for leaders to recognize and fulfill the needs of hope, trust, compassion, and stability to inspire positive change in an increasingly interconnected world. The comprehensive needs of followers must be understood, alongside the leaders’ own strengths and the expectations of their roles, for successful leadership.
The Gallup survey brings to light the fundamental expectations individuals hold for their leaders, emphasizing the predominance of hope as a critical quality. Trust, compassion, and stability follow closely behind, defining effective leadership. By acknowledging and fulfilling these needs, leaders can positively influence their followers, facilitating cooperation and enhancing overall societal well-being. Ultimately, effective leadership is rooted in understanding both the needs of followers and the leaders’ capacities.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
