If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that the best leaders don’t wait until the last minute to plan for the future. Whether you’re running a team of five or five hundred, the earlier you start planning and budgeting, the stronger your results will be, not just for you, but for everyone who counts on you.
We all know the routine. December rolls around, everyone scrambles to finalize numbers and people end up feeling rushed instead of focused. By then, opportunities to set bold goals, align resources and really think strategically have already passed. Budgeting should never feel like a fire drill, it should feel like building the roadmap that will get your team where you want to go.
That’s why I’m encouraging leaders to start business budgeting for 2026 now. Yes, now. Not next quarter. Not when the year-end crunch hits. Today. Because when you give yourself and your team the space to look ahead, you gain clarity, alignment and energy that you can’t capture in a last-minute sprint.
Starting early has another benefit; it opens the door for collaboration. Instead of dictating a budget from the top down, you can invite your team into the process. Ask your managers what they’re seeing. Ask your frontline employees where they believe investments will make the biggest difference. Budgeting isn’t just about cutting costs, it’s about placing bets on the future. Who better to guide those bets than the people living the work every day?
And let’s not forget that early planning helps identify challenges before they become problems. Cash flow concerns, staffing gaps or operational bottlenecks don’t sneak up on you when you’ve taken the time to anticipate them. Leaders who plan ahead aren’t surprised by the future, they shape it.
I’ve always said that leadership isn’t about managing people, it’s about creating conditions where people can thrive. Starting your 2026 budget now is one of the simplest ways to do exactly that. It tells your team: “We’re not just reacting. We’re building. We’re confident about where we’re going.” That kind of mindset trickles down into morale, performance and loyalty.
So, here’s my challenge: take a look at your 2026 goals this week. Block off time with your team to begin sketching out your priorities. Decide what investments will matter most, what risks you’ll need to navigate and how you’ll measure progress. Don’t wait until the pressure of year-end forces your hand, set the pace now.