As we settle into 2026, many senior leaders are already back in the familiar rhythm: packed calendars, constant decision-making, and the pressure to get priorities right—fast. It’s easy to get swept up in the fast moving current of corporate life without taking the time to really think through strategic initiatives and smart areas to invest in 2026.
If you haven’t paused yet to intentionally decide what deserves your time, energy, and budget this year, now is the moment.
Because here’s the reality: leaders make hundreds of decisions every day. When priorities aren’t clear, those decisions default to urgency, habit, or the loudest voice in the room—not strategy.
That’s why thoughtful annual planning isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s a leadership advantage.
To make this easier, I created a New Year’s Planning Exercise designed to help leaders clarify priorities across business and life—without overthinking it. You can answer some or all of it. No grading. No perfection required. Just clarity.
2026 Investor Priorities: Tides Have Shifted
One trend that began in 2022 and continues to accelerate is a fundamental shift in investor expectations.
Revenue discipline is back.
The era of growth-at-all-costs is over. Capital is no longer cheap. Boards and investors are paying closer attention to how leaders allocate resources, not just whether numbers go up and to the right.
This means executive teams are under more pressure than ever to:
- Spend intentionally
- Justify investments
- Demonstrate real ROI
The question leaders are quietly asking is:
Where is the smartest place to invest right now?
The 2025 Spending Mistake Many Companies Made
Last year, many organizations made decisions based on short-term gains or shiny trends rather than clear strategy.
AI is the most obvious example.
Companies poured millions—sometimes far more—into AI tools without fully understanding:
- The actual business need
- How the tools aligned with strategy
- Whether teams were trained to use them effectively
The result? 95% of AI projects failed.
The issue wasn’t the technology.
It was the lack of leadership clarity, change management, and capability building around it.
Which brings us to an uncomfortable but important truth for 2026. Stop investing in Ai too quickly and without a strategy. Think about you investments more holistically.
Where Smart Leaders are Investing in 2026
Taking a playbook that has never failed in the past, investing in people is what smart, investment-savvy leaders are prioritizing.
Humans still:
- Set strategy
- Make decisions
- Navigate conflict
- Build trust
- Drive execution
In other words, humans are still the backbone of organizational performance.
When leaders invest in communication, leadership effectiveness, and team dynamics, the returns show up everywhere:
- Stronger execution
- Higher engagement
- Better retention
- More resilient teams during change
This is especially true in life science and technology companies, where:
- Change fatigue is real
- Teams are stretched thin
- Middle managers are under-supported
- High performers are quietly burning out
AI may optimize tasks. But leadership capability determines whether the organization actually succeeds and scales.
Where to Invest in 2026: Questions Every Leader Should Ask
Before finalizing budgets or green lighting new tools, pause and ask:
- What skills does my leadership team need now to execute our strategy?
- Where are communication breakdowns costing us time and trust?
- Which managers need support to lead—not just produce?
- What capability gaps will slow us down if we ignore them?
The leaders who answer these questions early in the year scramble less later.
They plan their people investments with the same rigor they apply to financial ones.
Solutions at Swim Against the Current
If 2026 is the year you want more focus, stronger execution, and less leadership friction, here are the ways we support leaders and teams:
Executive Coaching
For senior leaders who want to increase impact, navigate complexity, and lead with confidence—without losing sight of their values.
Team Workshops
Highly interactive sessions that improve communication, efficiency, and trust. Many workshops leverage DiSC® and The Five Behaviors of an Effective Team® to create practical, lasting change.
Leadership Training
Designed for high-performing individual contributors and managers stepping into leadership roles. Focus areas include strategy, role clarity, decision-making, and motivation.
360 Reviews
Because clarity is kind. These assessments help leaders understand their strengths, blind spots, and growth opportunities—without guesswork.
What Leaders Can Do This Week
If you want a strong start to 2026, begin here:
- Block 30 minutes to define your top 3 priorities for the year
- Identify one people investment that would meaningfully improve results
- Download and complete the New Year’s Planning Exercise
Small, intentional steps now prevent reactive decisions later.
If you’d like help thinking through the right investment—for yourself or your team—reach out to me to have that conversation. The answer is different for every organization. There are a few key questions you’ll want to ask to determine which area of people investment would yield the highest ROI.