A new report from Gate One, with research and analysis, finds that leadership misalignment is emerging as a major barrier to transformation.
Organisations are under pressure to drive growth while increasing efficiency with 32% already citing budget constraints as a major challenge. As agentic AI accelerates change, the real test is whether organisations are equipped to deliver more with less amid misaligned leadership priorities and weak operational foundations for scaling transformation.
The finding is at the heart of the 2026 Transformation Index. Based on a survey of 750 senior decision-makers across the UK, Ireland, France and the United States, the research shows that only 11% of organisations are considered transformation ‘Leaders’, while 51% remain stuck at mid-maturity, unchanged from 2025’s findings.
Gate One’s research points to a growing disconnect at the top of organisations. CEOs rank workforce capability and skills among the three biggest threats over the next 12 months, while only 34% of Chief People Officers are prioritising talent acquisition and retention compared to an average of 48%, focusing instead on data and AI skills for the future workforce. Gate One says that difference in focus is making transformation harder to execute.
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