Every year, I find myself planning and filling my diary with plans, playbooks, and actions for the coming year. Companies and leaders gather in meeting rooms to map out their “strategic plan”—a detailed roadmap filled with KPIs, milestones, and forecasts that often look suspiciously like last year’s. But as we approach 2026, there’s a growing realisation that the old playbook no longer fits the world we’re operating in.
The best strategic plan for 2026 isn’t a spreadsheet, a slide deck, or a 200-page planning document.
It’s a blank page.
From Prediction to Adaptability
The pace of change has outpaced the value of prediction, so it is very important to be adaptable. Technology cycles now turn over in months, not years. Markets shift overnight as global leaders hit countries with higher tariffs. Customer behaviour evolves faster than data models can track. The assumption that we can map the next three years with precision is no longer strategy—it’s a dream.
A blank page represents openness: the ability to rethink, to reimagine, and to respond in real-time. It says, “No assumptions. We observe. We adapt.” I suspect the winners in 2026 will not be the companies who follow stringent plans, but the companies that position themselves for flexibility and adaptability. Set direction, not destination. Strategy becomes a conversation, not a calendar event.
Forget about rigid goals; rather, build adaptive systems that won’t fail when the pressure is on. The companies that embrace disruption and make it their competitive advantage will be the winners. A blank page doesn’t mean unorganised chaos but rather a culture of hard work, excellence, adaptability, and humbleness.
Why Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
Culture must eat strategy for breakfast. According to a recent survey, 87% of CEOs in South Africa know that culture is a competitive advantage, yet only 19% consider their culture to be right. Only 28% understand their culture, and more than 50% are trying to change their culture.
Gideon Galloway, CEO of King Price Insurance, said: “Culture is what makes us come to work every day. It is the way we do everything around here.” They are definitely not part of the 50% trying to change their culture. They are part of the 19% that know exactly what their culture is, and they live it every day.
The fact that 50% of companies are trying to change their culture shows us that a blank page or “white space” principle might be the best way forward. If the white space principle is used properly, then it creates a sense of calm and order during the most chaotic times.
Will you be trying something new in 2026, or will you keep with the tried and tested that has worked for many years? I am quite conservative when it comes to change, and I will choose the conservative or tried-and-tested option most of the time. The older I get, the more I am starting to look at the other, less conservative option. Let’s see what 2026 brings as we try the different options.
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If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.