Leadership Development

Only 40% of Firms Build Sufficient Leadership Bench Strength: i4cp

Only 40% of Firms Build Sufficient Leadership Bench Strength: i4cp

Boston – September 15, 2026 -- Just 40% of organizations say they are effective at building sufficient bench strength for critical roles, according to a global survey of nearly 800 business and HR leaders by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp).

Bench strength drives nearly 7x higher succession success

Organizations that excel at building bench strength are more than 2.5 times as likely to be high-performance organizations and nearly 7 times as likely to report successful succession outcomes, the study found. Yet the report, titled "The New Rules of Succession Management: A Blueprint for Future-Ready Organizations," concludes that many companies confuse succession activity—talent reviews, leadership programs, readiness plans—with actual leadership depth.

Veteran Colonel Launches AI-Era Leadership Training Program

Louisville, Ky. -- September 15, 2026 -- Soar Higher Leadership and Business Coaching has launched the SOAR HIGHER LEADERSHIP program, a training course designed to address leadership skills gaps created by rapid AI adoption in the workplace. The company is enrolling students for September and October cohorts.

Retired Air Force Colonel builds curriculum from combat and corporate command experience

Jason Ballard, CEO and Founder of Soar Higher Coaching, developed the program after retiring as a Colonel from the U.S. Air Force following more than 30 years of military combat and leadership service. Ballard subsequently led 12 companies that received industry awards, drawing on that operational track record rather than academic theory to structure the course content.