London Business School faculty argue that 2026 leadership will be won through presence, curiosity, and follow-through—especially as AI, wellbeing pressures, and contested sustainability debates reshape what teams expect from those in charge.
The London Business School article What you need to do differently as a leader in 2026 (22 December 2025) brings together guidance from Amy Bradley, Kathleen O’Connor, Selin Kesebir, Randall S Peterson, Ioannis Ioannou, Nicos Savva, and Dan Cable on leading through uncertainty without defaulting to tired slogans.
A recurring pressure point is disconnection: Bradley cites data from 389 work teams suggesting that in one in four teams, people are more likely to pretend everything is fine than share how they really feel, and that 56% of people feel unable to influence decisions affecting them. Her practical answer is small, intentional “human moments”—slowing down enough to give undivided attention so people feel heard.
Savva offers a concrete model for leaders who feel behind on AI, using Ted Lasso as an allegory: a capable leader dropped into a technical domain he doesn’t understand. The move that matters isn’t pretending competence; it’s humility and “reverse mentoring”—asking digitally fluent, often junior colleagues to teach you what you don’t yet know.
For association leaders, four governance-relevant takeaways stand out.
First, reduce assumption-driven leadership: O’Connor’s negotiation lens is to ask genuinely curious questions about what others value before trying to persuade.
Second, make trust operational: Peterson’s emphasis is follow-through—people watch actions more than statements, especially in hybrid and volatile contexts.
Third, treat wellbeing as culture, not programming: Kesebir argues leaders must model boundaries and recovery, or wellness initiatives won’t land.
Finally, keep sustainability commitments when attention shifts: Ioannou warns that “second-act” discipline—staying consistent amid political headwinds—separates purpose from performative pledges.
The throughline for 2026 is simple: lead with presence, learn in public, and make your commitments measurable through what you actually do.
