New DDI Study Reveals Hidden Performance Risk as Depleted Leaders Navigate Change, with Only 17% Confident They're Ready to Lead

Survey of 11,000+ Leaders Finds Nearly 1 in 5 Frequently Feel "Used Up," While Low Trust, Lukewarm Engagement, and Unchecked AI Output Compound the Risk

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DDI, the global authority in leadership development for more than five decades, today released its Global Leadership Forecast 2027, the largest and longest-running global study on the current and future state of leadership.

This year's research finds that organizations count on leaders to deliver through change they don't feel prepared to lead. Only 17% of leaders feel confident anticipating and reacting to change, a figure that has barely moved since 2025, and those who don't are a third as likely to stay productive during setbacks. The cost reaches the bottom line, too: organizations with effective change leadership are 2.4X more likely to meet or exceed their financial targets. Meanwhile, nearly one in five leaders (19%) frequently feel "used up," yet few are leaving their roles. Together, these findings point to a performance risk that organizations may not see coming.

DDI's 12th forecast since 1999 draws on responses from 11,395 leaders and 2,519 HR professionals across more than 1,900 organizations, spanning more than 50 countries and 24 industry sectors. The forecast is being released in three installments, each examining a distinct dimension of leadership. The first installment, released today, explores the challenges leaders face, from change and trust to engagement, future skills, and AI. Installments on HR's priorities and the future of leadership will follow in November and December.

"The pressures on leaders are compounding," said Rosey Rhyne, Manager of DDI's Center for Analytics and Behavioral Research. "Recurring restructuring is reshaping leaders' roles, and AI is redefining how their work gets done. These shifts are rapid and deeply personal, and many leaders are struggling to maintain the trust and engagement they need to lead their teams through disruption. The cracks show up first at the front line, where these pressures reinforce each other."

Other key findings include:

• AI Gains Are Outpacing AI Readiness: 81% of leaders report productivity gains from AI, and 75% say it has improved the quality of their work, but only 14% feel very prepared to use emerging technologies successfully, and only 18% say leaders check AI output quality.
• Leaders Fear Their Skills Are Slipping: 87% of leaders have some concern that their skills are becoming obsolete. Concerned leaders are 5.1X more likely to report a definite intention to leave their organization.
• Trust Is Lowest Where Execution Happens: Among individual contributors, just 21% trust senior leaders and 25% trust their immediate manager. Leaders who trust senior leaders are 5.9X more likely to say leadership decisions translate into action.
• Leader Engagement Is Settling at "Somewhat": Only 9% of leaders are fully engaged, while 50% sit in a lukewarm middle. Fully engaged leaders are 8.8X more likely to consistently bring out the best in their team members.

"Organizations can't slow the pace of change, but they can make sure leaders have the support and capabilities to meet it," said Tacy M. Byham, Ph.D., CEO of DDI. "That may mean making a counterintuitive choice: giving leaders who drive urgent change the time and capacity to build their skills while they continue to deliver. Building change-ready leaders protects more than their well-being. It protects their ability to perform when the business needs them most."

For more leadership data and best practices, explore the Global Leadership Forecast 2027: www.ddi.com/research/global-leadership-forecast-2027

About DDI

DDI is the global leadership company that helps organizations build the leaders they need today and prepare for tomorrow. For over 55 years, we've helped organizations hire, develop, and promote exceptional leaders. Across all levels, from emerging leaders to C-suite executives, we deliver integrated assessment and development solutions, leveraging data to guide talent decisions and accelerate leadership growth. This Continuous Leadership Intelligence approach enables organizations to anticipate leadership needs before they become urgent and build the precise capabilities their business strategies demand. Grounded in behavioral science, DDI helps the world's leading organizations achieve lasting success through better leadership. Learn more at ddi.com.

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SOURCE DDI