Hong Kongers want bosses with excellent communication abilities: survey

Honesty as a "boss value" comes at the bottom on their list.

A recent Regus survey among business people across the globe into the key traits that make a successful business leader has revealed that honesty and the ability to communicate with others are the must-haves in a successful senior executive’s arsenal.

According to a release from Regus, almost 40,000 business people globally, including 294 Hong Kong professionals, rated a variety of qualities and traits to help sketch out the portrait of a good leader.

The results show that, as well as a strong moral fibre, business leaders need be naturally confident and able to motivate people. But having the gift of the gab is not enough. Successful bosses also need to show commitment and not shy away from hard graft. Interestingly, ambition, financial competence and technical product knowledge ranked much lower on the list.

Hong Kongers gave a 2.49 rating for honesty while the global average is at 2.63; 2.52 for confidence while the global average is 2.59; 2.59 for good communications with the global average at 2.63; and 2.49 for the ability to movitate people, with the global average at 2.51.

Here’s more from Regus:

“Being a good leader is something that most workers aspire to, whether they are dealing with a small team and making their way up the ladder one rung at a time, or they are visionary entrepreneurs hoping to make it big. Global business people report that the most successful leaders have a number of strings to their bow and are very well rounded,” said Natina Wong, Country Manager at Regus Hong Kong.

“Not only are good leaders able to communicate well with employees and the outside world so they can share their vision, but they are also able to rally groups of people and motivate them.

But being an impassioned speaker is clearly not enough, as business people expect real substance behind the mask and report that honesty and commitment are also key traits of success. A good dose of confidence also does no harm and presumably helps leaders deal with both the ups and downs of businesses.”