Empathy is very important to good leadership for three-quarters of Americans
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted May 22 to 28, 2025, 74% of Americans said empathy is very or extremely important for being a good leader. This includes 45% who said extremely important and 29% who said very important.
Another 17% said empathy is moderately important and 5% said slightly important. Few Americans said it is not at all important (1%). About 3% said they do not know.
Topline scale
74% of Americans say empathy is very or extremely important for being a good leader.
How important is the trait of empathy with others to being a good leader?
n = 1,000 · May 22–28, 2025 · MoE ±3.1%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 22–28, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.1% |
| Module | Verasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2025-040 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- verasight-aapor-2025.tiiny.co
How important is the trait of empathy with others to being a good leader?
Cite this question
Verasight AAPOR Omnibus Survey #2025-040, fielded May 22-28, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.