Tags: COE Summit 2026

Leaders often ask: “Why is this initiative stalling?” “Why are we working so hard, yet progress feels slow?” “Why does the energy in the room feel… off?” These are important questions. But behind them is a deeper one: Where is the Human Infrastructure out of alignment? Alignment is What Activates Performance Every organization has People, Culture, and Systems. “What determines impact is how these three elements function together.” Think of them as the three sides of a triangle: 

For the past 25 years, I have noticed the issues of attracting, engaging, and retaining talented people remain unchanged. This has led me to wonder why traditional approaches to human resources continue to have limited success despite the best efforts of talented HR professionals.  Gallup consistently reports in their annual report that employee engagement continues to hover between 30% and 35%. Clearly, an innovative approach is needed to break the cycle of limited success. 

People often talk about AI in extremes, either as a magical idea machine or a looming replacement for human creativity. I see it differently. AI is a thinking partner: fast, clever, and occasionally brilliant. That said, I also wouldn’t let it drive me, or anyone I care about, around in my car without supervision.

As 2025 nears its close, many leaders and organizations aren’t just feeling fear—they’re feeling fear fatigue. It’s the quiet exhaustion that builds when: Uncertainty becomes constant Strategic decisions stack up Culture feels stretched Leaders are carrying more than they can name Fear fatigue doesn’t look dramatic. It looks familiar: hesitation, blurred focus, emotional flatness, and systems that react instead of respond.