Organisations face a widening gap between fast-changing external conditions and internal systems built for stability. Leaders are under pressure to deliver short-term performance, often at the expense of long-term value, innovation, and trust. At the same time, employees are becoming more individualistic as work lags behind the agility of their lives outside work.

Our World Outlook report highlights three interconnected themes leaders must address:

1. Enhancing imagination for the future
Successful organisations move beyond “how we’ve always done it” and develop the confidence to set direction without historical reference points. Imagination, experimentation, and smart risk-taking become critical leadership capabilities.

2. Building a collective identity
As individualism rises, organisations must rebuild coherence by shifting personal agility into collective adaptability. Shared rituals, narratives, and horizontal belonging help restore commitment and alignment.

3. Rebalancing the deal
The employee–employer deal has become overly transactional and shareholder-led. Rebalancing it requires clearer non-negotiables around fairness, trust, and lived experience, enabling people to adapt, learn, and contribute sustainably.