6 Tips for Planning a Successful 2026
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First week of October. You’re just kicking off Q4, ready to finish the year strong as you glide into the holiday season.
The thing is, you should already be thinking ahead to 2026.
It’s the middle of October, which makes it the perfect time to start thinking about next quarter and next year, even as you push for a strong finish to 2025.
Here are 6 things you can do now to set you up for success in 2026.
1. Plan before the planning.
Reframe your annual planning from “brainstorm meeting” to “alignment session.” Individually, your leaders should reflect on the most important company priorities for the year. Together, you should have preliminary conversations about where you’ll put your focus. You’ll need that information to build your budget, which should be complete by year-end. Read more here.
2. Vet your annual budget carefully.
Your CFO considers your budget the “must-do” financial map for your business. You may set higher goals in your sales meetings or even your OKRs—but hitting your budget is non-negotiable. Ground your budget in reality. If your budget shows significant growth for the business, you need an airtight plan for proving you can achieve it. Read more here.
3. Start sooner.
Please, don’t wait until the end of Q1 to get your annual planning locked down. You’ll have wasted 3 months of momentum. December or early January (even November in some cases!) are the time for annual planning if your fiscal year aligns with the calendar year. Read more here.
4. Use Q4 as a springboard.
The new year may feel magical when the clock strikes midnight, but your business trajectory will largely carry over from December 31st to January 1. Use Q4 to set you up for a strong Q1—especially if you have longer sales cycles. The work you do now will drive the results you get in 3-6 months. Read more here.
5. Have an eye on the bigger picture.
Your annual planning isn’t only a 12-month roadmap for your business. It’s also part of a bigger roadmap, usually 3 years, that is driving an even larger North Star, maybe 5-10 years out. Keep the long view in mind so that the plan you put together is moving you toward your long-term goals. Read more here.
6. Control what you can; let go of what you can’t.
Uncertainty is the name of the game right now. Something in your 2026 plan likely won’t go the way you expect it to. That’s okay. Focus on the things in your control. As for the rest: keep your eyes open. You never know when a challenge might turn into an unexpected opportunity. Read more here.
Our team has open capacity for annual planning sessions, but you’ll want to book sooner than later. Contact us here to connect with a consultant.
Here’s to a productive Q4 and a great (early) start to 2026.
