Pets bring us companionship, joy and comfort, but recent research shows they can also contribute to our success in business.
A survey conducted by Banfield uncovered a connection between people, pets and professional achievements: 93 percent of C-suite executives surveyed in the U.S. grew up with a pet, and 78 percent attribute their career success in part to owning a pet as a child.
The survey found it isn’t just dogs and cats that have a positive impact on success. Regardless of the pet, top business leaders agree their pet companions taught them valuable lessons as a child, such as responsibility, empathy and creativity – qualities they believe helped them thrive in their careers. And nearly a 24 percent of those surveyed said their childhood pet taught them more valuable lessons than their first internship.
If you didn’t grow up with a pet, don’t worry. The survey also suggests current pet ownership can go a long way in the workplace. Nearly all current pet owners surveyed said they stick to a schedule or routine (86 percent), have better time management (86 percent) and are good at multitasking (86 percent) because of their pets. Sixty-two percent of C-suite executives surveyed believe pets had a positive impact on their ability to build relationships with co-workers and clients — and that’s true of both working professionals and executives.