You’re well into the third quarter. Urgent priorities are piling up, the year-end is coming fast—and yet, the most powerful thing you can do right now has nothing to do with finishing this year strong.
It has everything to do with shaping what’s next.
Because 2026 won’t wait, and great CEOs know that the seeds of next year’s growth are planted now.
This is your moment—not to simply set goals, but to architect a strategic roadmap that aligns your company’s vision, values, and market momentum with intentional action.
Start With Vision Clarity: Reframe What Winning Really Means
Good CEOs map out a future because their board, investors, and teams expect it. The best CEOs go further—they redefine the scoreboard.
They ask:
- Where are we going over the next 10–15 years?
- What does “winning” look like in the world we want to lead?
- And how do we rally the organization behind that vision?
According to LSA Global, companies with high vision clarity outperform low-clarity peers by 31%. That’s not just a planning advantage. That’s a performance advantage.
Find Your Sweet Spot: Where Strategy Meets Opportunity
Use a simple but powerful Venn diagram to explore the overlap of:
- Your core competencies
- What customers actually want
- Where the market is heading
This is your strategic Sweet Spot—the place where your business can not only compete, but thrive. From there, you’ll uncover growth paths:
- M&A opportunities
- Product expansion
- Service line rationalization
- Or deeper investment in what’s already working
This clarity allows you to focus your time, talent, and capital on what truly matters—and abandon what doesn’t.
Revisit Your Core Values: Are They Still True North?
Your core values aren’t wall art. They are decision-making filters.
Ask yourself:
- Do our values still reflect who we are—and who we’re becoming?
- Do they shape behavior and guide action across the company?
In fast-growing companies, values often get left behind. But during strategic planning, they must come to the front.
Because strategy without cultural alignment leads to friction, disengagement, and missed execution.
Track Market Trends: Don’t Just React—Anticipate
You can’t build a forward-facing strategy with a rearview mirror.
Start asking:
- What are our customers asking for—before they say it out loud?
- What tech, regulations, or competitors are reshaping the landscape?
- Where is the puck going—and how do we skate there now?
Your ability to lead in 2026 and beyond will be defined by your ability to anticipate, not just adjust.
Your CEO Call to Action
Strategic planning isn’t just a task—it’s a leadership obligation. And if you wait until Q4 or the annual retreat, you’re already behind.
So ask yourself:
- Have I defined what success looks like for the long game?
- Have I involved the right voices in shaping our path forward?
- Have I carved out time—not just for plan reviews, but deep thinking?
Now is the moment to lead—not react. To align your vision with execution. And to turn insight into impact for 2026.
Let’s make this planning season count. If you’re ready to elevate your strategic process—from alignment to execution—I’m here to help.
Let’s design a plan that doesn’t just check boxes—it drives your future.