People love a CEO who sets a clear direction, tells them the truth, and backs both up with everyday decisions. Not speeches. Decisions. That is what employees describe when they talk about the leaders on our just-released 2026 Most Loved CEOs list.
Isn’t loving your CEO just about personality?
No. Charisma fills a room for an hour. What employees remember is whether the CEO was fair when it cost something, present when things were hard, and willing to listen when the news was bad.
Where do employees actually see it?
In areas such as workload, recognition, development, and how the hard moments get handled. A CEO can say “our people come first” every quarter. Employees check it against who got the extra work, who got thanked, who got the stretch role, and what happened the last time someone raised a problem.
How would you know what your people think of you?
You probably don’t, and that’s normal. Direct reports soften it. Exit interviews soften it more. In the Love of Workplace Index™, one of the five love statements employees rate is simply “I love my CEO.” It’s anonymous, and it’s run by someone outside the company. That’s why people answer it honestly.
What should a CEO do first?
Ask, then show what you did with the answer. Pick one thing your people raised, fix it, and tell them you fixed it because they said so. Then ask again next cycle. Trust grows from that loop, not from the first survey.
What do employees at companies with Most Loved CEOs say about their organizations?
The 2026 Most Loved CEOs list recognizes leaders whose own employees say they feel respected, supported, and proud to work for them. Across industries including technology, financial services, healthcare, hospitality, construction, professional services, and more, these CEOs are identified using the Most Loved Workplace® research model, which looks at emotional commitment, trust in leadership, inclusion, and real opportunities for growth.
How does your culture look from the outside? Do your employees feel connected to your organization? Your free Most Loved Workplace® Opportunity Report gives you an outside read.
