How businesses can drive change in 2026

As the pace of change progresses across technology, economics and politics, businesses are exploring new approaches to transformation. It’s now clear that, for businesses to thrive, change needs to be built into the very foundation of how they function, rather than being treated as a one-off task.

In 2026, success won’t be defined by the biggest budgets or the newest technology. It will come from applying the practices that create lasting change. To do this, organisations must remain clear on the emerging trends that are key to driving effective transformation projects.

A common error that can derail a change journey before it begins, is diving head-first into activity before preparing. Instead, businesses need to invest time into outlining wider objectives from the outset, aligning this with the type of value they want transformation to deliver. Without this, change may be driven forward, but will encounter stubborn obstacles and delays, resulting in a completed project that may not contribute to business goals.

At this preparation stage, leaders must align on staff support, training, and capacity planning to keep change aligned with workloads.

In 2026, businesses will see the blended team approach increasingly integrated into change journeys. While outdated approaches would often involve external specialists delivering a one-off change project and leaving businesses to their own devices, this is no longer the case.

Modern transformation requires a partnership approach in which internal teams are at the centre of driving change forward, with external consultants enhancing progress and decision-making throughout the journey. This blended approach is far more effective and can improve the project’s longevity far beyond its completion.

Staff training can no longer be an afterthought for businesses undergoing transformation. Instead, organisations must build upskilling into key stages of the change journey.

More organisations are adopting embedded learning pathways. These enable teams to learn while delivering change, not after. Continuous learning closes knowledge gaps, builds confidence, and enables a smooth transition to new systems.

The make-or-break factor for businesses who want to create lasting change in 2026, is mindset. As organisations continue to face uncertainty, those who thrive will be the teams that empower a mindset shift from the top-down. Subseqently, leaders must move beyond control and enable teams to participate in transformation. By empowering decisions at all levels and encouraging curiosity and experimentation, businesses can create environments ready for change.

It’s clear that businesses looking to progress in 2026 need to start treating change as a core capability. Early change preparation, integrated teams, and continuous learning are now non-negotiable for project success. When organisations recognise these factors and adopt a business-wide mindset shift, change can deliver lasting value.

Read more on how businesses can drive change at every level.