In two polls reported for the most admired people, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were the most consistently regarded.
To be precise, Barack Obama came first worldwide, and first or second in the US, depending on the poll. In Australia and the UK, he was beaten by David Attenborough.
Michelle Obama was the most admired woman worldwide, and in both US polls. In the UK, Queen Elizabeth II ranked ahead of her; in Australia, both the Queen and Jacinta Ardern ranked ahead. Ardern was top in New Zealand, unsurprisingly, followed by the Queen and Obama.
Donald Trump beat Obama in one of the US polls - but that’s because it was taken at a highly politicised time, and the Democrat vote was split, with Obama coming in second, and Joe Biden third. Trump was supported by 18%, Obama by 15%, Biden by 6% and, interestingly enough Bernie Sanders by 1% (7th most admired). It’s quite salient to find that Obama outperformed Trump in every country surveyed - except Russia. They have a friend in Trump!
In Australia, only two Australians made each list: the prime minister, an athlete, an actor... and a previous prime minister, Julia Gillard.
Of the top 20 men globally, 35% (7 men) were leaders/politicians, 20% were athletes, 20% actors, 15% capitalists and 10% spiritual leaders. I might have expected a more eclectic mix, but that gives some idea who people look up to the most: leaders and achievers that are in the public eye. People admire their power, admire them physically, or admire their wealth. There’s a 12.5% exception for their humanism, if you count Bill Gates as half philanthropist.
The Australian list was similar, but we admire leaders less (25% instead of 35%) and sports people more (25% instead of 20%) - which suggests we have the same regard for each! David Attenborough was an addition and exception. Is he admired as a scientist or a humanist? Possibly more of the latter.
The methodologies for the surveys need to be mentioned. In the US, Gallup surveyed in December, and asked an open-ended question, which meant people could choose personal acquaintances.. For the rest (including the other US survey), 42 countries were included (which included Turkey - so Erdogan got to the global top 20, although two Turkish figures were ahead of him within Turkey, both singers). YouGov did some preliminary polling earlier in the year, then asked the survey questions from a closed list of people.
My List? Off the top of my head, I’d include
Jacinta Ardern
Julia Gillard
Barack Obama
Bernie Sanders
David Attenborough
If I wanted to include entertainment, I might include Neil Young (for his enormous. varied musical career and great guitar work), George Clooney (for his humanitarian as well as screen presence) and Patrick Mahomes (US quarterback for the KC Chiefs, for his ability and leadership). If pressed, I might come up with more names from science, literature, music and American Football.
And what is admired? The list of qualities seems to differ, depending on whether the involvement is personal, work-related, or those with no direct connection.
The following list appeared in Forbes, which might speak to leadership as much as anything:
1. Humility
2. The ability to learn
3. Integrity
4. Responsibility
5. Resilience
6. Compassion for others
7. Respect for others
8. Big vision
9. Inspiring others
10. Reinvent ourselves
