We are in 2026!
I was 80% wrong
Every year I outline scenario themes. For 2024: AI, quantum computing, synthetic biology. For 2025: AI as the accelerator, data, blockchain, mixed reality going mainstream. Some landed. Most didn’t. That is the point. Strategy is not about predicting the future. It’s about how quickly you can respond to whatever is thrown at you.
The real shift for 2026
The story isn’t “new tech.” It’s technology abstraction. With the assistance of AI, the barrier to launching ideas is collapsing. Powerful tools are now available to everyone in your organisation. Speed is no longer constrained by capability. Which exposes the real bottleneck.
Culture is the battleground
Tools aren’t the problem. Technology isn’t the problem. Culture is. Passion. Authenticity. Clock speed. Trust. Shared principles. The freedom to act without asking for permission. Five years ago, I had the pleasure of working with Sunil Prashara (the then CEO of the Project Management Institute) on a global citizen development initiative. He predicted that ultra-ambidextrous organisations would win. Organisations able to exploit today while exploring tomorrow, at speed. He was right. This is no longer optional.
Three questions for 2026
Instead of predictions, answer these or score (1-3 points):
-
Speed: How fast are decisions really made in your organisation?
-
Culture: Have you explicitly codified and agreed your culture — or is it assumed?
-
Agency: How much agency do your people actually have to play?
0–3: Fragile 4–6: Stable but slow 7–9: Future-fit
Scenario themes
Quantum computing (and QAI), synthetic biology, data transparency, mixed reality, restorative economics — remain scenario themes. They are not “ifs”. They are timelines. As Bill Gates put it:“We overestimate what will change in two years and underestimate what will change in ten. Inaction is the real risk.”
Future fitness
That’s exactly why I created MindCandy (almost daily on LinkedIn) and the Mindcandy Club. It’s a no-nonsense future-fitness system for CEOs and leadership teams. Not prediction. Structure. A way to sense early, decide fast, and stay optional in a volatile world. There are still a few places available.
Let’s make 2026 great again.
