How to Stay Two Steps Ahead in 2026

One skill every effective or emerging leader must develop in 2026 is anticipation. Anticipation is the ability to see into the future, around bends, and around corners. It matters because the greatest risks to an individual, a team, unit, or organization often come from what they cannot see, unplanned events. In a world where information is abundant and cheap, vision and direction become premium commodities.

Great leaders have a way of foreseeing what lies ahead and preparing their organizations accordingly—whether to pull back and limit risk, push forward to seize opportunity, or wait on the sidelines. A great leader may not always be the most technically skilled, but they are invariably the most insightful.

So, how can emerging leaders cultivate the skill of anticipation in 2026?

1. Develop Greater Awareness: To anticipate effectively, you must grow your awareness. One way to do this is by exposing yourself to a broad range of information sources. Knowledge that seems irrelevant at first may reveal hidden connections and insights later. Engage with the unfamiliar—you will gain intuition and perspectives that extend beyond your usual domain. For instance, if you work in nursing, consider learning about IT; if your field is IT, try reading up on economics. Don't rely on only one news outlet. Broaden your perspective by checking out several others. Discover what's going on elsewhere in the world. It may surprise you to learn that happenings elsewhere across the globe often hint at what might unfold in the future. Pushing beyond your boundaries expands the lens through which you see the world.

2. Make Time for Reflection: Quiet, reflective time is a powerful tool for emerging leaders. Develop the practice of meditation, not just for relaxation, but to meditate on current information and events. Ask not only what is happening, but why. Unique insights often emerge when you pause, listen actively, read between the lines, and pay attention to the meaning behind what people say, and not just the words themselves.

3. Engage in Strategic Scenario Analysis: Anticipation requires preparing for multiple possible futures. Run through a range of “what if” scenarios and failure mode analyses. Ask yourself: Do we have contingency plans for each scenario? Strategic scenario analysis exposes new inputs and perspectives that might otherwise remain hidden, strengthening both your foresight and your organization’s resilience.

In 2026, the leaders who stay two steps ahead are those who see what others cannot and act before the future arrives. Cultivating anticipation is not just a skill—it is a mindset that transforms uncertainty into opportunity.