European CEOs believe that a greater focus on ethical, people-oriented leadership will be the new norm by 2025, according to new research by Korn Ferry.

In the survey of 163 CEOs in Europe, 94% say the CEO role will have a greater emphasis on moral/ethical leadership by 2025. In addition, 95% say that CEOs will shift from a single focus of profit to include greater emphasis on people and "planet."

"CEOs realise that the business world cannot be guided by profits alone at the expense of ethics, fair treatment of people and environmental stewardship," Korn Ferry Senior Client Partner Marie-Osmonde Le Roy de Lanauze-Molines said. "It is increasingly critical that leaders guide with transparency and a focus on the greater good."

The survey found that today's leaders feel that the biggest driver emerging for leaders to succeed is the drive to make a difference in how business is done. The surveyed CEOs also indicate technological forces will have the greatest impact on how they do business in the coming years, followed by economic and political forces.

When asked about their largest obstacle to obtaining their vision in the future, the CEOs cite a shortage of qualified talent.

Meanwhile, having a sense of mission and purpose is the most important factor to a CEO's future success, according to the survey, followed by agility/openness to change and a strong set of values.

"There is no doubt that the business world of 2025 will be quite different from today, and it's a positive sign that today's European CEOs are seeing a shift to a broader view of what success will look like in the future," Le Roy de Lanauze-Molines, said.