How to build a strong and future-ready HR foundation in 2026
2026 marks the next big step for HR: from operational support to a proactive strategic partner. While 2025 brought acceleration, 2026 will be all about integration. AI is becoming part of nearly every HR function, skills are reshaping recruitment and talent development, and retention is shifting from afterthought to core requirement for organizational stability. In this article, we link key trends for 2026 to their impact on HR teams, processes, and the employee journey. You’ll gain actionable insights and practical recommendations to help your HR department stay ahead.
HR can no longer afford to be reactive. The opportunity lies in shaping the collaboration between people and technology, and in bridging the gap between digital ambitions and human realities. HR will take center stage, driven by AI integration, skill-based talent development, and a renewed focus on retention and culture. With new legislation, personalized learning, and data-driven leadership, 2026 will be the year HR helps shape the future of work.
Korn Ferry identifies four major developments shaping the year ahead. These trends affect not only recruitment, learning, and leadership, but also the agility of entire organizations. For future-focused HR teams, these are the strategic levers to pull.
HR Trend 1: Return-to-Office Redifines Your EVP
The return-to-office (RTO) debate is no longer just about logistics, it strikes at the heart of your Employee Value Proposition (EVP). Organizations are struggling to balance flexibility with preserving company culture.
Now’s the time to reimagine your EVP in action, not just on paper. Instead of mandating office presence, consider “intentional gathering”: using in-office days for connection, collaboration, and cultural reinforcement. This builds team cohesion without compromising employee autonomy.
HR Trend 2: AI and Flat Structures are Changing Leadership
AI is enabling flatter organizational structures, but there’s a hidden risk: we may be erasing the very roles that develop tomorrow’s leaders. With fewer junior and mid-level management layers, how will future leaders learn the ropes?
HR can take the lead here by reinventing leadership development. Focus on dual leadership: teach young professionals how to co-lead alongside AI tools. With the right mentorship and support, organizations can remove layers without sacrificing leadership pipelines.
HR’s ambition with AI often exceeds the team’s current capabilities. There’s a gap between strategy and execution; between what HR wants to do with AI and what’s actually possible today. This is the moment for HR to evolve into a tech-enabled function. With better data hygiene and AI literacy, HR can finally unlock the promise of predictive analytics: solving problems like turnover before they arise.
HR Trend 3: Personalized Learning Changes the Way We Develop
The era of one-size-fits-all learning is over. AI and modern solutions like Learning Management Systems make it possible to deliver highly personalized coaching and training at scale, perfect for the growing focus on skills and competencies.
Where executive coaching was once reserved for senior leadership, today’s technology enables custom learning journeys for every employee. This accelerates upskilling and boosts engagement by aligning development with individual needs.
HR Trend 4: HR Takes the Driver's Sear, Finally
HR is stepping up as a strategic architect of business success. With rising complexity and constant change, HR leaders are increasingly recognized as key decision-makers. By combining business strategy with human insights, like emotional impact of mergers or AI rollouts, HR becomes essential in the boardroom.
Whitepaper tip!
Want to learn more about how HR can move from fragmented systems to a fully integrated strategy? Then read our whitepaper "The Future of HR: One Strategy for Growth, Culture and Performance."
Research and consulting firm Gartner summarized the trends for 2026 into concrete action items:
- Use AI to change HR: HR managers need to come up with a clear AI strategy that focuses on HR. An important part of this is changing the HR model, which is predicted to help AI improve productivity the most.
- Shape work in the age of humans and machines:
Develop a talent strategy that responds to today's reality as well as tomorrow's. HR should have scenarios ready in which humans and AI work together. - Mobilize leaders for growth in an uncertain world: Leaders must not only inspire, but make change so normal that teams embrace it naturally. Organizations that master this are three times more successful in achieving healthy change.
- Strengthen culture to improve performance: Culture should not remain an abstract concept. By embedding desired behaviors into everyday work, organizations can achieve up to 34% higher performance.
