There is a quite revolution happening in leadership, and it is not about tech, strategy, or margins.  It is about people.

As we discussed during our recent INAC Global webinar on The Future of Work:  Trends, Skills, and Reinvention, a powerful shift is taking place, where burnout, mental health, and work-life balance are no longer seen as HR topics; they have become board priorities.  The most forward-thinking leaders have realized that productivity and profitability are no longer sustainable if employee wellbeing is treated as a secondary concern.

Welcome to the era of human sustainability -a concept coined by Deloitte, which refers to an organization’s ability to promote and sustain the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of its workforce over time.

According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety cost the global economy over $1 trillion USD each year in lost productivity. And yet, when organizations make intentional efforts to support wellbeing, the results are tangible, impacting higher retention, greater performance, and stronger cultures.

We are seeing it firsthand in our work around the world at INAC Global Executive Search.  More and more companies are seeking leaders who not only deliver results but who also create human-centered environments; spaces where people can thrive, not just survive.  Leadership is being redefined.  Today’s most effective executives are those who understand that taking care of people is strategy.

Human sustainability is not about adding more wellness programs.  It is about integrating care into the core of work itself, reimagining how, when, and why people work. It is about creating cultures where psychological safety is not a bonus, it is a baseline; where flexible work is not a benefit, it is an expectation; and where personal growth and purpose are not side conversations; they are part of the business model.

Companies that embrace this are seeing the upside.  According to a Deloitte study, organizations that invest in human sustainability outperform their peers in innovation, inclusion, and long-term growth. With this in mind, wellbeing is not the opposite of performance, it is the engine behind it.

We are at a turning point.  Employees are demanding more, and rightly so.  Leaders who rise to the occasion and invest in their people will not only attract the best talent but also build organizations that are resilient, future-ready, and truly sustainable.

In the end, the smartest investment any leader can make is … their people.

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Klemens Wersonig, Board Member INAC Global and CEO TARGET Executive Search Group (INAC CEE)

Founder and CEO of TARGET Executive Search CEE (INAC CEE), is a visionary leader with over 30 years in executive search across Central and Eastern Europe. Austrian pioneer of the East, who crossed the iron curtain in 1988. He is known for turning challenges into opportunities. With over 20,000 personal interviews he has become one of the most experienced headhunters. He also is an expert on top secret searches. With a doctorate in business administration and international experience beyond CEE also in Canada, the USA, and France, he brings a truly global perspective.