A CEO I work with once told me: “Every December, we scramble to finalize next year’s plan, and by the time it’s ready, Q1 is already half over.” The result? Teams reacting instead of executing. Opportunities missed. Growth stalled.
That’s the danger of waiting too long to plan. If you want to hit the ground running in 2026, now is the time to start. The earlier you begin, the more time you have to identify gaps, align your First Team, and cascade clarity throughout the organization.
Reactive leadership is expensive. It drains resources, frustrates teams, and quietly erodes enterprise value. Proactive leadership, on the other hand, accelerates alignment, sharpens execution, and positions the company to seize new opportunities before competitors do.
Here’s why starting now matters:
- Evaluate what’s working — and scale it. Review 2025 initiatives while there’s still time to learn from them. Which bets delivered growth? Which created measurable value? Scale those early wins now so you can double down in 2026 with confidence.
- Pinpoint what needs adjusting — before it drains resources. Waiting until December forces rushed fixes. Instead, examine where execution faltered this year and make adjustments now. Proactive course correction prevents wasted resources and protects enterprise value.
- Leverage new opportunities — while they’re still emerging. Markets will evolve in 2026, but the signs are already here. Planning early gives you the visibility to spot trends and shifts — and the agility to capitalize before competitors move.
The CEOs who build enterprise value don’t wait for year-end reports. They anticipate, align, and adjust while they still have time to lead from the front.
CEO Call to Action: Look at your calendar. Block time this month to assess what’s working, what’s not, and where new opportunities are emerging. Bring your First Team into the conversation now, not later. Because waiting until January is too late — and proactive planning is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to unlock enterprise value in 2026.