Consistent with previous years, the 2024 Humankindex Study findings point to a clear connection between kind leadership and a range of greater business and talent outcomes. However, the data also indicates that many business leaders are failing to embrace it more at a time when it is arguably needed most.
The proof behind the power of
kind leadership.
Leading with kindness drives innovation and competitive advantage.
According to the research, leading with kindness is the most effective leadership style to drive innovation and competitive advantage. Employees feel a shared sense of purpose between their job and the company’s leadership and goals.
%
Of workers believe their company leaders put kindness before anything else.
%
Companies whose leadership style is to lead with kindness believe it has led to more of a competitive advantage.
%
Leading with kindness best leads to a more innovative work environment.
An organization is 3X more likely to be considered innovative if a company is kind.
Workers named a leadership style of “puts kindness before anything else” as most correlated to competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Many companies are missing the boat.
Despite a global pandemic and a reshaped world, many company leaders embraced a profits before people leadership rather than one of kindness.
%
Company’s leadership has embraced kindness as a value significantly more in the last year.
%
Company’s leadership has embraced a “profits before people” as a value the same or more in the last year.
Embracing kindness as a value pays off.
Meanwhile, the research demonstrates that those companies who have adopted a leadership of kindness to a greater degree since the pandemic have paved the way toward more innovation.
%
Of workers agree their company’s leadership has embraced the value of kindness more in the last year
%
Say it has led to greater innovation among employees.
6 of 10
workers
&
7 of 10
younger workers
say they would rather have a management team that helped them find meaning in their work than receive a 5% pay increase.
What’s better for business, kindness or profits?
Clearly, profits matter in business. Without it, organizations wouldn’t survive. But is it best to lead with that? Signature’s research has found several tangible positive outcomes to putting kindness first and before profits.
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