FUSE: Turning Insight into Action for 2026

A new year is a natural moment for reflection – and for reality checks. Too often, Boards enter the New Year believing strategy is aligned and culture is healthy, only to find the gaps emerge in execution. Research shows 82% of leaders believe teams are aligned with strategy, yet only 23% of employees agree. This “optimism bubble” is a subtle but costly blind spot (Reitz and Higgins).

MM&K’s FUSE is designed to surface these gaps, helping Boards start the year with clarity. It gives Boards actionable insights into how culture, behaviour, and reward align to strategy.

High-performing organisations don’t leave alignment and culture to chance. They understand that:

• Behaviour is the currency of culture and strategy – stories, visible rituals, peer recognition, and decision frameworks all shape what people actually do, alongside more formal policies and pay structures.
• Boards are custodians of culture – and stewards of the organisation. They must ensure executives feel safe to bring difficult truths and that the strategy cascades into actionable behaviours.
• Strength awareness drives execution – teams perform better when leaders understand their own strengths, each other’s strengths, and how the team shows up to the wider organisation.

Key Questions for Boards in 2026:

1. Does our culture accelerate the execution of our strategy, or slow it down?
2. Do our remuneration structures reinforce the right values and behaviours, or unintentionally reward the wrong ones?
3. Does what we hear about organisational culture in the boardroom reflect the lived experience across the organisation?

2026 isn’t about hoping culture and strategy align. It’s about knowing, seeing, and steering – starting now. MM&K’s FUSE gives Boards the insight to answer the questions that really matter, ensuring culture and strategy reinforce each other every day.

If you’re interested in how MM&K could help align leadership, culture, and pay, please contact Tamsin Howells (tamsin.howells@mm-k.com  or Stuart James (stuart.james@mm-k.com).

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