How to Rethink Leadership in 2026

The World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Leadership is setting out to initiate a global leadership lab to facilitate dialogue, collaboration and action with the aim of opening up new leadership futures that will create better outcomes for people and the planet. 

In its latest report, Next generation leadership for a world in transformation: Driving dialogue and action, the council outlines a holistic approach to addressing what appears to be a systemic rather than a purely human failure: The structures and institutions, the assumptions and traits that have long shaped how leadership is defined and exerted, are under unprecedented pressure. 

The report emphasizes four interlinked, but independent variables that shape the leadership cycle regardless of sector or region:

1. How leaders are selected
2. How they are trained
3. How they take decisions and action
4. How they are incentivized to manage their succession and long-term legacy.

Read on to learn more.