A corporate CEO is better or equally skilled to serve as U.S. president than a candidate with a traditional political background, said 65 percent of business executives polled by the Korn/Ferry Institute.  In the survey, 43 percent agreed with the statement that a corporate CEO is better skilled to serve as president, while 34 percent disagreed.  About 22 percent said a CEO and a traditional political candidate would be equally skilled to hold the job. 

The Korn/Ferry Institute is the research arm of Korn/Ferry International, a global provider of organizational leadership, human capital development and talent management solutions.

Despite the wide support in the survey for a CEO's ability to be an effective president, most business executives wouldn't want the job.  When asked if they would like to be U.S. president, an overwhelming 74 percent of the executives said "no," while 26 percent would embrace the challenge.

The majority of the executives (56 percent) also believe that the task that a U.S. president faces in maintaining the confidence of voters is more difficult than maintaining the support of shareholders and directors as CEO (44 percent).

The survey also explored the competencies identified by business executives as mission-critical to presidential effectiveness.  Some 78 percent cited "negotiation and compromise" as a critical competency, likely reflecting Washington's current partisanship environment.  Yet, executives also said that core competencies in "understanding others" and "conflict management" are the hardest for most people to develop.

When asked if any presidential candidate, regardless of party, possesses the competencies to create a bipartisan spirit in D.C., a third of the executives said "only someone with superb negotiating ability" would be able to accomplish such a goal.  Roughly the same number said "Congress moves only according to political party interests."

"Whether you're the CEO of a multinational company or the president of the United States, the foundational competencies of effective leadership are typically calibrated around the ability to deal with ambiguity, build effective teams and motivate others toward a common vision," said Ana Dutra, CEO of Korn/Ferry's Leadership and Talent Consulting.  "The proven ability to master these mission-critical leadership competencies is often what separates executives who rise to the top of the organization or the political official who gains prominence and stature in our nation's capital."

Detailed survey results follow: