As we step into 2026, leadership and culture are no longer supporting acts to strategy. The first is a move away from leadership capability as the focus, towards leadership cognition – how leaders think, interpret situations and make decisions under pressure. In 2026, leaders will increasingly be judged not by what they know, but by how they think when the path forward is unclear. In 2026, leaders who equate safety with comfort will struggle. As New Zealand organisations move into 2026, the question is no longer whether leadership and culture matter.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 01, 2026 11:03 UTC