Gallup’s 'Global Leadership Report' Reveals What Followers Want from Leaders

At the World Governments Summit 2025 (WGS), Gallup launched its latest study, "Global Leadership Report: What Followers Want," revealing key insights into the qualities people seek in their leaders.

The study emphasizes that followers across the globe prioritize trust, compassion, and stability but place the greatest importance on one quality—hope.

The research, conducted in partnership with WGS, surveyed participants from 52 countries, covering 76% of the world’s adult population and 86% of global GDP. Respondents were asked to identify leaders who had the most positive influence on their lives and to list three qualities that made them impactful. Hope emerged as the leading trait, cited by more than half of the respondents, far surpassing trust, which ranked second.

The study’s findings suggest that hope, particularly in leadership, plays a pivotal role in improving well-being. Those who identified hope as a key leadership quality were more likely to thrive—38% compared to 33% for those who did not. In contrast, only 6% of hope-driven respondents reported suffering, compared to 9% of those without hope in leadership.

Family members and managers were the most frequently named leaders, with workplace leaders significantly influencing employees' lives. About 34% of employed individuals cited a work-related leader as the most influential, compared to 44% who mentioned family members.

The research underscores the universal need for hope in leadership, with particularly high demand among individuals aged 18-29 in the Asia-Pacific region. Gallup's study illustrates that leaders who embody qualities like hope can have a profound and positive impact on both personal and professional well-being.

News Source: Emirates News Agency