Worldcom released the results of the October Worldcom Confidence Index (WCI), the first AI-driven ‘living’ global market research. These show what over 100,000 global business leaders are thinking about and how their confidence levels have changed since September. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) topped Worldcom’s Engagement Monitor, making it the most talked about topic in October[i]. Retaining talent had the second highest level of leader engagement. Talent retention also saw the second largest decline in leader confidence since September – down 1.33%.
Time to address the challenges of hybrid working
The challenges of hybrid and flexible working increased its share of what CEO’s were talking about online – moving to #8 on the Engagement Monitor. And CEO’s confidence in solving those challenges saw the biggest fall in confidence since September – down 1.72%[ii]. When you add in a fall in confidence for attracting talent, upskilling and reskilling, and retaining talent, it’s clear that employees are currently the biggest concern for business leaders.
Time to focus on how to navigate an uneven economic recovery
An article in The Economist highlights that the global economic recovery will be uneven. So, it’s no surprise that the economy commanded the third highest level of leader engagement in October. Confidence in navigating the economy fell slightly, as did confidence in the related topics of global trade agreements, economic migration and government and legislative change.
Using Artificial Intelligence as one possible route to recovery may explain why AI was the fourth most talked about topic. It’s a subject that saw an increase in confidence since September – up 0.77%.
Time to understand how to communicate contributions to saving the planet
With COP26 looming, ESG, sustainability and reducing plastics was the fifth most talked about topic in October. The commitments made at the conference show that business leaders are expected to play their part by leading the change in behaviour needed to try and halt the rise in global temperatures.
Time to have a clear strategy for influencers, the media, and social media
Influencers were the audience most talked about by CEOs in October. The impact and role of the media and of social media both featured in the Top 10 topics for the month. And in both cases the confidence of leaders saw a decline since September – with confidence in handling traditional media experiencing the fourth largest fall over the month.
Todor Janev, chair of The Worldcom Public Relations Group (Worldcom), said: “Hybrid working and retaining talent had the two largest falls in confidence since September. This highlights the need for organisations to have an integrated communications strategy for protecting the business against the ‘Great Resignation’ that is underway because of the pandemic.”
Todd Lynch, managing director of Worldcom, said: “The Worldcom Confidence Index provides invaluable insight to companies about business trends, concerns and opportunities that are top of mind for CEOs and CMOs. It can be used as an indicator of what is most important to leaders around the world and thus help leaders and their companies to make sure they are focusing on the most important issues.”
The Worldcom Confidence Index is the world’s largest monthly study of what the C Suite is talking about. And it is the only global study that shows the change in confidence across a range of important business topics.
The Global Results for the month of October can be seen HERE.
The Video summary of the Global Findings can be seen HERE.
About the Worldcom Confidence Index
The Worldcom Confidence Index (WCI) is the first AI-driven ‘living’ global market research, tracking the topics that over 80,000 CEOs and CMOs are commenting on online. The AI-fuelled tracker is updated monthly and is drawn from an active sample of over 100,000 C-Suite executives. It tracks data for two roles, six regions, 42 countries and 11 industry sectors. It identifies the levels of engagement with business topics and how much the level of confidence for each topic has changed. It is the first global study of this type to use AI supported data capture.
About The Worldcom Public Relations Group
The Worldcom Public Relations Group is the world’s leading partnership of independently owned public relations firms, with 143 offices employing some 2,000 staff in 115 cities across six continents. In total, Worldcom partners reported combined revenue of US$300+ million last year from 3,034 clients. Established in 1988, the group was formed so that the strongest, most capable independent firms could deliver immediate impact and sustained value through the intelligent use of communications – wherever in the world a client needs support. Partners serve national, international, and multinational clients, while retaining the flexibility and client-service focus inherent in independent agencies. Through Worldcom, clients have on-demand access to in-depth communications expertise from professionals who understand the language, culture and customs of the geographic areas in which they operate. Learn more about Worldcom at www.worldcomgroup.com or by calling 1-800-955-9675.