The report shows global leadership at an inflection point
Global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) released its Global Leadership Monitor H1 2026, a bi-annual survey of 2,700+ global business leaders tracking organizational health and leadership preparedness against external trends.
The report shows global leadership at an inflection point, with technological change emerging as the single most critical factor influencing organizational performance for the first time since the survey was launched in 2021.
Two in three (63%) global executives identify technological disruption – including AI, machine learning, robotics, big data, IoT, and related technologies – as a significant opportunity or challenge in the next 12 to 18 months. This represents a near doubling of concern since 2022, rising from 32% with a near 10-percentage-point increase in the last year alone.
This is already translating into action on the ground: 35% of leaders report their teams have fully implemented GenAI into daily workflows, nearly double the 19% recorded just twelve months ago.
“The pressing challenge, as shown by our survey, is building the executive capabilities and board-level governance necessary to guide organizations through this transformation. That will ultimately be the differentiator between long-term success and failure,” commented Nicolas Manset, Head-Middle East, Russell Reynolds Associates.
Key global findings from the H1-2026 Monitor:
Strategic thinking remains the defining leadership capability. While tech literacy would seem the most vital competency for leaders in this climate, the report reveals that over half (55%) rank strategic thinking skills as the highest in demand for dealing with top organizational health levers
With the growing weight of AI in business and leadership performance indicators, the demand for human judgement intensifies. Leaders increasingly value capabilities associated with judgment, adaptability, prioritization, and long-term thinking over narrower domain expertise alone
Talent mobility remains elevated as leaders reassess long-term career alignment. Nearly two-thirds of leaders’ report being open to making a move beyond their current employer; up 5% (3PP) since H1-2025.
