BHG-logo-2022-v2-blue (2)

HR Outlook Book 2026

The Year of Progression

Proven Steps to Human-AI Capability and Organizational Growth

AI has crossed the threshold from tool to teammate.
Skills are evolving faster than ever.
Leadership models are being rewritten in real time.

The organizations that hesitate will fall behind.
The ones that progress with intention will define what comes next.

HR Outlook 2026 is your roadmap for navigating AI acceleration, workforce volatility, and rising expectations for human-centered leadership.

Inside, you will discover:

  • How leading organizations are building real human-AI capability rather than simply experimenting with tools
  • Why learning, leadership, talent acquisition, and talent management must evolve from static programs into adaptive ecosystems
  • How to turn inclusion and psychological safety into measurable performance drivers
  • What predictive talent intelligence means and how to use it before your competitors do
  • The critical decisions HR leaders must make now to avoid stagnation

This is not about incremental change.
It is about progression. Continuous, compounding advancement.

If you lead HR, Talent, L&D, or Workforce Strategy, this report will help you move from uncertainty to momentum.

Download HR Outlook 2026 and start building your advantage.

 

HR Outlook 2026 - Proven steps to human ai capability

Download now
Checklist image

This Outlook Book contains:

  1. The Future of Leadership Development: Navigating the Complexity of Preparing Leaders for an AI-Enhanced World
  2. The Future of Learning & Development: Navigating Transformation from Tracking to Business Impact in an AI-Enhanced World
  3. The Future of Inclusion: From Metrics to Meaning — Building Cultures Where Everyone Can Do Their Best Work
  4. The Future of Talent Acquisition: From Talent Scarcity to Capability Abundance — Building Intelligence-Powered Systems That Develop People, Not Just Hire Them
  5. The Future of Talent Management: From Career Ladders to Career Ecosystems — Building Talent Strategies That Evolve With Your People
  6. The Future of Human Resources: Informing Workforce Planning Through AI-Driven Insights
  7. The Future of Work: Creating Adaptive, Human-AI Organizations Built for Continuous Progression
Mike-Cooke_sq

"What we are witnessing now is fundamentally different from anything we have documented before. Multiple transformations that would normally unfold sequentially are now colliding and demanding simultaneous resolution.

We are calling this the Year of Progression because progression has become the default state of modern organizations. AI is stabilizing into real capability, skills requirements are shifting rapidly, and HR sits at the epicenter of this shift.

The real opportunity is no longer about discovering AI. It is about accelerating along the maturity curve with intent, confidence and evidence. The organizations that build the muscle to sense, adapt and execute continuously will not just survive this era. They will define it.

The future belongs to the progressors."

Mike Cooke, CEO at Brandon Hall Group

Brandon Hall Group, 2026