The Compass
Reflections, strategies, and real leadership insights to help you navigate change, challenge, and growth.
Predictions: The Top HR and Talent Issues for Senior Leaders in 2026
The Top HR and Talent Issues for Senior Leaders in 2026
As we move into 2026, senior leaders and decision-makers are facing a rapidly evolving landscape of talent and human resources challenges. At True North Executive Coaching & Leadership, we’re closely monitoring these emerging issues to help leaders navigate the complexities of a dynamic workforce.
Leading in the Age of AI: How to Build Your Leadership Brand and Persona in a Data-Driven World
In the age of AI and automation, your leadership brand is one of the last true competitive advantages.
Your humility, your courage, your conviction—those aren’t outdated soft skills. They’re leadership essentials for the future of work.
So build your brand with intention. Lead with empathy. And let your leadership persona be the clearest signal in the noise.
The Unseen Cost of Leadership: Emotional Labour
In leadership, we measure performance by the numbers. Revenue targets. Productivity. Efficiency. But what about the emotional labour leaders shoulder daily—the invisible work that keeps teams together, but rarely gets acknowledged?
Emotional labour isn’t just about being “nice” or “empathetic.” It’s about strategic communication, conflict management, and the capacity to foster psychological safety in the workplace. It’s the glue holding teams together. And yet, it remains invisible.
Imagine a workplace where emotional labour was as valued as revenue targets. Where leaders were recognised not just for what they deliver but for how they show up for their people.
Rewarding Toxic Behaviour: The Silent Killer of Workplace Culture
It’s one of the most destructive dynamics in workplaces across the globe: toxic behaviour being rewarded and even celebrated. Whether it’s a high-performing sales director in North America who steamrolls their team but hits targets, a manager in Europe who leads with ego but still gets promoted, or an executive in Asia who drains the culture but brings in revenue; the pattern is disturbingly similar.
But every time we excuse it, we endorse it. Every time we reward it, we replicate it. And every time we stay silent, we make it harder for the good people to stay.
In leadership, it’s not just about what you say. it’s about what you do after you say it. Follow-through is the difference between a leader who inspires trust and one who loses it.
In leadership, it’s not just about what you say. it’s about what you do after you say it. Follow-through is the difference between a leader who inspires trust and one who loses it.
In the end, follow-through is about integrity. It’s about being the kind of leader who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. When leaders follow through on their commitments, they create a culture of trust, accountability, and reliability—qualities that every strong leader should strive for.
The Rising Value of Executive Coaching in the Age of AI and Automation
In an era marked by rapid technological advancement and increasing reliance on AI, the value of leadership and executive coaching has never been more pronounced. At True North Executive Coaching & Leadership, we believe that while AI can handle processes and data, it’s the human side of leadership that will define successful organisations.