The End of Control - The Leadership Trends of 2026

Episode notes

Guest: Christopher Washington, Provost Emeritus As we look ahead to 2026, one truth is becoming impossible to ignore: the leadership models that built today’s organizations are no longer sufficient for the world we’re entering. In this annual trends conversation, Maureen Metcalf, our usual host, is interviewed by Christopher Washington, Provost Emeritus of Franklin University, to explore the deeper forces reshaping leadership in the coming year…from AI fluency and human-centered leadership to agility, sustainability, and organizational cohesion. What emerges is a unifying insight: power is no longer the primary currency of effective leadership. Together, they examine: Why AI is forcing leaders to rethink how they make decisions How human energy, not time or talent, has become the scarcest resource Why agility is about disciplined adaptation, not speed, and Why leaders must act as unifiers in an increasingly fragmented world. This episode is not about trends as tactics. It’s about the evolution of leadership itself, and what it takes to lead without breaking people, organizations, or yourself.