Confidence Index 2025

a Big Untapped Potential?

Where confidence is strengthened in uncertain times, people grow beyond themselves and collaborate more successfully.

With the Confidence Index, JENEWEIN surveys leaders and employees across the DACH region about how confidently they look to the future of their organization. The results offer direct insights into the vast untapped emotional potential within many companies.

Dr. Oliver Böhm
(Initiator and lead researcher of the Confidence Index)

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In addition to surveying over 1,000 employees, the 2025 Confidence Index focuses on action. We asked board members and CEOs of leading companies such as Volkswagen, Ernst & Young, Talanx, and SICK: How can we bring the power of confidence to life within organizations? What actually works in practice? You’ll find the interviews in this report.

ABOUT

CONFIDENCE INDEX 2025

The JENEWEIN Confidence Index is an annual study and the only report in the German-speaking region that systematically measures confidence at the organizational level.

For the survey, we questioned 1,030 employees from the DACH region in February 2025, including 63% non-managerial staff and 37% leaders. The data was collected via an online questionnaire and includes both full-time and part-time employees. Participants come from a wide range of industries, including automotive, banking, education, services, manufacturing, and IT.

This diversity of industries enables a comprehensive picture of the current sentiment among employees in the German-speaking region.

of all respondents believe that the best days for their organization are still ahead.

Are employees being emotionally left behind?

Around half of the leaders surveyed look to the future with a positive outlook. However, when employees are asked, the picture is quite different. The gap between the two groups has grown from 11% to 14% compared to the previous year—highlighting a negative trend.

SATISFACTION, LOYALTY, AND PERFORMANCE CAN BENEFIT FROM CONFIDENCE

VOICES FROM THE REPORT

HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN CONFIDENCE?

“We need to move away from fear of decline and toward a hunger for success. The best days are still ahead. As the executive board, we must embody this ambition and mindset.”

Dr. Oliver Blume
Chairman of the Board, Volkswagen AG & Porsche AG

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“Adaptability is probably the answer to complex conditions. And that, in turn, requires even more dialogue. It may sound paradoxical—but it is precisely this that provides orientation and confidence, and unleashes the energy we need to work even more purposefully toward strong outcomes.”

Nicole Kurek
Board member, SICK AG

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I am convinced that in our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, confidence is a key emotion for mastering the many challenges we face. Studies show that a positive mindset can indeed move mountains—because it strengthens motivation and perseverance. 

Torsten Leue
Chairman of the Executive Board, Talanx AG

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 “Confidence has always been a success factor, but in today’s world, its importance has grown even further. Companies must be able to adapt agilely to new circumstances in order to respond with flexibility.”

Dr. Henrik Ahlers
Country Managing Partner & Managing Director, EY Deutschland

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READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

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