Watchwords for 2026

Hello KSKOers

For the last few years I’ve been setting out watchwords for the coming year, as both premonitions and guiding principles. As we head into the second quarter of the century, I suspect change will be underpinned and overarched by ultra-digitalism. And as we move further into the digital age, we’ll need to balance it with hyper-humanism to ensure man and machine can co-exist in harmony! Check out my watchwords for 2026.

Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!

Hyper-Humanism & Ultra-Digitalism

As we hurtle into the digital age, our need for nuanced human empathy, warmth, and understanding will grow ever stronger. Our need for face to face interaction and social connection was starkly highlighted during the social distancing enforced in covid. It was then that the humanity of humans and our need for social contact became abundantly clear. As we shift into 2026, I think work life will be both underpinned and overarched by a constant balancing act of keeping our human world human, whilst capitalising on what machines can offer.

“We need the AI to be the brain, automation to be the hands and the human to be the heart, to ensure that we balance ultra-digitalism with the inimitable qualities of hyper-humanism.”

Care

As touchy feely humans who benefit from the contact of others, care will always be a mainstay of what it means to be hyper-human. Whilst humans rely on each other as sellers, consumers, carers, clients, patients, beneficiaries and service users, leaders will always need to care for others. Whilst interaction is human to human, humanity will always involve care. Care as kindness, care as service and care as safe-keeping: we’ll need them all to balance out ultra-digitalism.