Teamwise GuideTeam development, by the numbers.
Why invest in team development in 2026?
Teams need development in 2026 because engagement is at 20% and most managers feel unprepared for change.
The strongest published statistics on engagement, manager pressure, coaching and collaboration make the case for programs that build shared language and keep coaching going after the workshop, the approach behind Everything DiSC and The Five Behaviors.
The research
What do the 2025 and 2026 numbers say?
20%
Global employee engagement fell to just 20% in 2025, with estimated productivity losses of $10 trillion.
Source: Moving Mountains HR85%
of managers who receive coaching outperform their peers in critical skills such as resilience and agility.
Source: Kinkajou Consulting82%
of managers feel unprepared to lead through transitions, and 77% of employees report change fatigue.
Source: Moving Mountains HR25%
Remote work cut cross-functional collaboration by roughly 25%.
Source: Moving Mountains HR70%
of L&D professionals and functional leaders say it is important or very important for leaders to master a wider range of leadership behaviors.
Source: Kinkajou Consulting67%
of CHROs report increased expectations for employee productivity.
Source: Braintrust Growth47%
of managers say more is expected of them than a year ago.
Source: Braintrust Growth9 hrs
a week, more than 20% of working time, is what managers spend on employees’ personal and emotional concerns.
Source: Braintrust Growth24%
of leadership teams are aligned on who is accountable for AI agents.
Source: Braintrust Growth
What it means
What do these numbers mean for HR buyers?
Three patterns stand out. First, managers are stretched: nearly half say more is expected of them, and they spend about nine hours a week on people’s personal concerns. Second, change is constant, and 82% of managers feel unprepared to lead through it. Third, coaching works: 85% of coached managers outperform peers.
That points toward programs that combine a shared framework with ongoing coaching rather than one-off events. Everything DiSC turns a day-long workshop into an ongoing process, Situational Leadership gives managers a playbook, and certifying an in-house facilitator keeps the learning going without paying per session.
Part of our ranked guide to the best team development programs.
Common questions
See all 47 questionsWhat are the best team development programs?
The best team development programs pair a research-backed assessment with facilitated follow-through. Our top pick is Socratyc, which delivers Everything DiSC, The Five Behaviors, Situational Leadership and Center for Creative Leadership programs, in person across the United States and virtually worldwide, with a needs conversation first and a follow-through plan after the workshop.
What are the top team building activities for 2026?
In 2026 the most useful team building activities address real working problems: remote collaboration, change fatigue and conflict. Microsoft’s field study found remote work cut cross-group collaboration by about 25%, so structured cross-team workshops are valuable. Assessment-based sessions such as Everything DiSC Productive Conflict turn activity into lasting skill.
What is the 70-20-10 rule for employee development?
The 70-20-10 rule says people learn about 70% from on-the-job experience, 20% from relationships such as coaching and feedback, and 10% from formal training. It is a guideline, not a law. It explains why the best programs pair a workshop with coaching and application in daily work.
What is the best leadership training in 2026?
The best leadership training in 2026 matches the program to the leader’s level. Our top pick is Socratyc, which delivers Situational Leadership for managers, Everything DiSC Work of Leaders, CCL’s Leadership Development Program and Benchmark 360 for executives, and Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching, all through one provider.
Does DiSC certification pay for itself?
For many organizations it does, often within the first session. In Socratyc’s own worked example, running 8 full-day sessions a year with an outside facilitator at $6,000 per day costs $48,000, against a one-time certification price of $3,995. Assessment costs are the same either way. Try our calculator with your own numbers.
Turn the numbers into a plan.
Talk to Socratyc about the program that fits your team’s biggest gap.