In this week's Human Loop I discuss the evolving landscape of leadership in 2026, emphasising the critical role of AI and the necessity for leaders to adapt their strategies. I highlights the importance of human skills, trust, and purpose in driving organisational performance, while also addressing the challenges posed by skill gaps in the workforce.

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Chapters:

00:00 The State of Leadership in 2026

02:27 Strategic Leadership as a Core Skill

04:22 The Importance of Human Skills and Trust

07:16 Closing the Gap Between Tech and Human Capability

Studies Mentioned:

Story 1: UK business investment in AI and training

https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/assets/pdfs/media/press-releases/2025-press-releases/lloyds-bank/31.12.2025-lloyds-new-year-flash-business-barometer.pdf

Story 2: Survey coverage & additional context

https://www.lloydsbank.com/business/resource-centre/insight/business-barometer.html

Story 3: Skills gaps & transformation barriers

World Economic Forum summary on skills gaps and upskilling priorities

https://gloat.com/blog/ai-employment-impact

Story 4: AI in the workplace & skills obsolescence

https://www.secondtalent.com/resources/future-of-workplace-statistics-that-are-important-to-know/

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

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In this week's episode of The Human Loop, Agni and I discuss the importance of authenticity in leadership and recruitment, the role of honesty in attracting talent, and the impact of AI on the recruitment process.

Chapters

00:00 Leadership Failures and Authenticity

03:04 The Role of Honesty in Recruitment

06:04 Speed to Hire: Strategies for Success

08:45 AI Adoption in Recruitment

11:45 The Future of AI in Staffing

14:35 Human vs AI in Recruitment

17:41 Building Trust in Recruitment

20:44 The Importance of Relationships

23:48 Differentiating in a Crowded Market

26:47 Leadership Metrics: Sacrifice and Challenge

29:41 Meaningful Work and Team Success

Connect with Agni https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnighosh/

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.com/

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weekly loop I discuss the latest research and trends in human performance, AI integration in business, employee engagement, and the challenges of burnout.

We highlight the significant use of AI in organizations, the concerning decline in employee engagement, and the critical need for effective communication and support for managers and employees to combat burnout and enhance productivity.

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Chapters:

00:00 The Rise of AI in Business

02:47 Employee Engagement Trends

06:07 The Burnout Crisis

08:55 AI Training and HR Integration

11:48 Leadership and AI Strategy Disconnect

15:02 Key Takeaways and Future Focus

Studies Mentioned:

Story 1: The AI Value Gap

"The State of AI 2025: Agents, innovation, and transformation"

Source: McKinsey & Company

URL: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai

Story 2: Manager Engagement Crisis

"State of the Global Workplace 2025"

Source: Gallup

URL: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/state-of-global-workplace

Story 3: Burnout at All-Time High

"Workforce Trends 2026: Leaders Confront Burnout, Disengagement, and AI-Driven Change"

Source: DHR Global

URL: https://huntscanlon.com/workforce-trends-2026-leaders-confront-burnout-disengagement-and-ai-driven-change/

Story 4: The AI Training Gap

"2025 Talent Trends: Artificial Intelligence in HR"

Source: SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)

Published: February 2025

URL: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/2025-talent-trends/ai-in-hr

Story 5: The AI Strategy Illusion

"Workforce 2025 Global Insights Report"

Source: Korn Ferry

URL: https://www.kornferry.com/about-us/press/korn-ferry-reveals-workforce-2025-research

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.