Episode 181: Highlights from The Leadership Skills Report 2026

Published: February 4, 2026

Details

In this episode of The 90th Percentile, BreAnne Okoren and Joe Folkman unpack Zenger Folkman’s new Leadership Skills 2026 Report and explore what truly differentiates leaders in an AI-accelerated world.

As AI makes information faster and cheaper, one capability is becoming increasingly scarce: human leadership. Drawing on fresh data from tens of thousands of leaders and direct reports—along with insights from trust, feedback, recognition, and decision-making studies—BreAnne and Joe reveal why technology is amplifying both productivity and the cost of weak leadership.

Together, they walk through the four leadership priorities shaping 2026: strengths-based development, faster decision-making fueled by trust, employee experiences that unlock discretionary effort, and cultures built on psychological safety and shared influence. You’ll learn why there’s no single “best” leadership style, how trust becomes infrastructure for speed, and why recognition and participation are some of the highest-impact behaviors leaders can master.

If you’re navigating change, scaling leadership capability, or wondering how to help your organization thrive alongside AI, this episode offers practical, research-backed guidance you can apply right away.

Want the full research, visuals, and practical framework? Download the new Leadership Skills 2026 eBook to explore each chapter in depth and start applying these insights with your leaders today.

Key Points

1. There is no universal leadership style—strengths matter more.
   Extraordinary leaders don’t try to copy a model. They build a few distinctive strengths while eliminating fatal flaws, making personalized development the fastest path to excellence in 2026.
2. Decision-making is becoming a competitive advantage—and trust is the accelerator.
   Top decision-makers don’t just analyze better; they create clarity, move quickly on low-risk issues, and build trust so decisions can happen closer to the work.
3. Trust isn’t soft—it determines speed.
   In low-trust environments, progress stalls behind approvals and safeguards. In high-trust cultures, work moves faster because people are empowered to act.
4. Discretionary effort comes from confidence, recognition, and purpose—not pressure.
   Leaders who focus only on driving results get compliance. Leaders who build confidence, recognize contributions, and connect work to purpose unlock commitment, creativity, and resilience.
5. Psychological safety and shared influence outperform command-and-control.
   Organizations with greater participation and voice generate better decisions, higher extra effort, and lower intent to quit—proving that expanding influence beats tightening control.

Webinar

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:15 — 13.0MB)

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