The 2026 State of EQ Report
The Human Skills Stack:
The Capabilities that Power Performance
in an Uncertain, AI-Driven
World
As organizations navigate rising economic uncertainty, rapid change, and accelerating AI adoption, one insight stands out: performance increasingly depends on human skills.
Download the report to learn how leaders and organizations are responding and where capability gaps are holding them back.
Human Skills Are the New “Stack”
When asked which skills will be most critical for their workforce in the years ahead, respondents consistently identified both technology and human capabilities.
The Takeaway
Performance depends on an integrated human skills stack where EQ, adaptability, critical thinking, and communication skills enable technology to deliver results.
What skills matter most in the next 3-5 years?
Rising Uncertainty and Change Are
Testing Leaders
How much of an impact will the following have on your organization in the next 1-2 years?
Economic uncertainty is now the #1 factor expected to impact businesses in the next 1–2 years
How often does your organization experience major changes or transformations?
54% of organizations report experiencing frequent or constant change
To what extent do you feel your organization is prepared to address market changes and disruptions?
Despite modest improvement in the last year, only 41% feel well-prepared to handle disruption
The Takeaway
This isn’t a temporary moment. It’s the new operating environment. And how leaders manage pressure has become a defining performance differentiator.
Internal Alignment Is the Hidden Performance Constraint
While external forces dominate headlines, the data shows the most significant barriers to performance is internal: lack of alignment across teams and leaders.
These challenges intensify under uncertainty, slowing execution and eroding trust just when organizations need to move faster.
The Takeaway
Alignment isn’t a culture “nice-to-have.” It’s the mechanism that allows organizations to perform under pressure.
What’s really getting in the way of execution?
Leaders Are Working on the Wrong Things
Data from Emotional Intelligence Appraisal Multi-Rater assessments reveals a striking disconnect:
Fewer than 5% of leaders’ self-ratings align with how others rate them
45% of leaders show no overlap between the behaviors they want to work on and the behaviors raters say are limiting their effectiveness
Leaders tend to focus on inward-facing behaviors, while raters point to outward-facing behaviors that affect teams, trust, and performance
The Takeaway
Leaders are investing effort but often in the wrong places. Without clear feedback, even well-intended development fails to deliver impact where it matters most.
What This Means for Organizations and L&D Leaders
To build capability in today’s environment, organizations must focus on how skills are built, reinforced, and applied under pressure.
Build the Human Skills Stack
Design development strategies that integrate EQ, adaptability, critical thinking, and communication
alongside technical skills.
Develop Leaders for Real-World Pressure
Focus on outward-facing behaviors—how leaders are experienced—especially during uncertainty, change, and high-stakes decisions.
Strengthen Alignment and Trust
Equip leaders with the skills to communicate clearly, manage emotions under pressure, and create alignment across teams.
Download the 2026 State of EQ Report
Get the full report to explore the data, insights, and implications shaping leadership and performance in the year ahead and learn how to build the human skills stack your organization needs to succeed.