The skills leaders need to sharpen

A new report from SuccessFinder says the traits that will define effective leadership in 2026 are shifting, and many current leaders are not ready for the change.

Drawing on assessments from more than 17,000 leaders, the Future of Leadership report identified three trends reshaping success: Tech acceleration, economic uncertainty, and human-centric leadership. SuccessFinder said that leaders will need to blend digital fluency with human judgment to guide responsible AI adoption and innovation, yet only 26 per cent score high for flexibility, a core skill for adapting to rapid change.

Market volatility is also elevating the importance of resilience and fast, strategic decision-making. Just 18 per cent of leaders score high in stress tolerance, pointing to a gap in preparedness for instability and competitive shifts.

At the same time, employees are asking for more purpose, inclusion and wellbeing at work. The report says empathy, connection and psychological safety are increasingly central to retention, engagement and performance, but these traits remain underrepresented among senior leaders.

“Today’s leaders demonstrate strong collaboration and analytical thinking, but struggle in key areas such as empathy, adaptability and resilience,” explained Carolyn Hass, chief operating officer at SuccessFinder. “To bridge the gap, organizations need a data-driven approach to identify their leadership challenges, define a model aligned with their context, and assess their talent to tailor development accordingly. In-depth evaluation and continuous feedback are essential to ensure leaders grow in step with the business.”

The group said the findings show the need to align leadership development with strategic goals and the specific traits that drive long-term success. As generative AI and automation continue to reshape roles, the report emphasized that digital skills alone are not enough. Leaders must be able to interpret data responsibly, foster innovation and guide adoption in ways that build trust and reduce risk. Without flexibility and resilience, the organization’s ability to respond quickly and confidently may be limited.

The company added that strong management fuels innovation, accountability and organizational resilience, but maintaining those advantages will require clearer leadership models, targeted assessment and continuous feedback. According to the report, human-centred behaviours will play a larger role in performance outcomes, with empathy and psychological safety becoming strategic drivers rather than soft skills.

SuccessFinder’s research suggested that organizations that invest in tailored development plans built on measurable behavioural data will be better positioned to navigate uncertainty and realize gains in productivity and engagement.

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