Will 2026 be the year the much-anticipated “future of work” arrives in a flash? Not likely. But it will mark a pivotal shift for people leaders as HR evolves from a compliance-driven function to a core driver of busine

s

s adaptability. To fulfill the mission, peop

le leaders must: Deeply understand the business, its challenges and opportunities, what success looks like and how we intend to get there. Make sure the organization fills the right seats by crafting talent strategies that support, enable and accelerate business strategies. Execute talent management practices—acquisition, development and rewards—that make that talen

t strategy a reality. The HR function must