Two Resources Leaders Must Harness to Thrive in 2026: Peers and AI
Summary
Leo Bottary argues that two underused but powerful resources — peer influence inside organisations and artificial intelligence — are the keys to leadership success in 2026. Peers shape culture, speed learning, and distribute accountability laterally; AI augments judgement by recognising patterns, synthesising information and removing friction. Combined, peer systems plus responsibly integrated AI create a learning loop where insights compound, trust is reinforced and performance scales through connection rather than control.
Key Points
- Peer dynamics are the main drivers of culture, learning and day-to-day behaviour in organisations, often more than formal hierarchy or policies.
- Healthy peer-to-peer systems shorten feedback loops, surface blind spots and convert individual experience into collective intelligence.
- AI’s greatest value is augmentation — pattern recognition, synthesis and speed — not replacing human judgement.
- AI without peer context risks misapplication; peers provide the ethics, judgement and accountability needed for responsible use.
- Leaders should shift focus from individual performance to systems that sustain learning and collective performance.
Content summary
Bottary explains that much of meaningful work happens laterally: colleagues teach, model and reinforce behaviour. Organisations that nurture peer interactions get faster learning, better alignment and greater adaptability. Meanwhile, AI is maturing as a tool that can accelerate learning, reduce routine burden and surface insights at scale. The article emphasises that AI must be woven into social systems — peer groups using AI to test assumptions, synthesise lessons and build shared memory create a multiplier effect. Practical leadership questions include mapping how learning flows, identifying broken peer dynamics, and designing structures where people think together, not merely alongside one another.
Context and relevance
This piece sits at the intersection of two major trends: renewed interest in culture-driven performance and rapid adoption of generative and analytical AI in the workplace. For senior leaders, the article reframes value creation: the competitive edge is less about individual heroics and more about creating systems that marry human judgement and AI-enabled intelligence. It is relevant for executives designing change programmes, HR leaders building learning systems, and transformation teams deploying AI responsibly.
Why should I read this?
Short answer: because it saves you time and gives a clear lens on where to put your energy in 2026. Want faster learning, fewer silos and AI that actually helps rather than confuses people? Read this — it tells you to fix peer systems first, then bolt AI on properly so it amplifies judgement, not undermines it.
Author style
Punchy. Bottary is direct: stop treating AI as a magic bullet and stop ignoring the sideways influence of peers. If you care about durable performance, his point — build systems, not control — is worth digging into.