Leadership Expert Calls for Renewed Focus on Human Element in Business Strategy for 2026

Motivational speaker and author Rocky Romanella argues that people remain more important than artificial intelligence in business, emphasizing qualities like intuition, emotional intelligence, and trust that machines cannot replicate. In his newsletter 'Beyond The Buzz: Why People Still Matter Most,' Romanella contends that while AI optimizes processes, people build trust, spark innovation, and close deals, serving as the heartbeat of organizational culture and strategy execution.

Romanella references Theodore Roosevelt's 'The Man in the Arena' speech to celebrate employees who face daily challenges with grit and heart. He poses critical questions for business leaders regarding how they equip their people to thrive, what culture they build to support courage and resilience, and whether they recognize effort beyond outcomes. The full newsletter is available at his website in the newsletters section.

Declaring 2026 as the year to reverse the trend of cutting training and development, Romanella asserts that people deserve priority investment and focus. He advocates treating leadership development as a strategic imperative rather than a luxury, arguing that competitive advantage will come from how well organizations mentor, educate, and prepare people to lead into the future.

Romanella outlines a disciplined approach to leadership development including leadership alignment where leaders model continuous learning, creating mentorship cultures, hiring for potential, performance development beyond evaluation, and building resilience and adaptability. He emphasizes that disciplined development bridges potential and performance, turning promising individuals into industry-defining leaders.

Additional resources supporting these concepts are available through Romanella's various platforms. His Forbes Business Council contributions can be found at this link, while his Leadership Library Podcast, now in its ninth season, offers weekly episodes through 2025 at this website and this platform.

Romanella's bestselling book 'Tighten The Lug Nuts: The Principles Of Balanced Leadership' draws from his forty-plus years at UPS and leadership roles to provide practical leadership frameworks. The book, which achieved number one bestseller status in business management and leadership categories, offers detailed examples and how-to messages applicable to leaders across various contexts. More information about the book and additional leadership resources is available at his main website.