We often like to believe that we can control more than we actually can. But when it comes to the future, success isn’t about controlling everything. It’s about knowing what you can influence and acting on it before others do.
Through decades of advising leaders across the globe, I’ve used my Hard Trend Methodology to help distinguish between future certainties and future possibilities. Hard Trends will happen. Soft Trends might happen, but with the right action, they can be redirected. That’s your strategic advantage.
Influence Begins Where Assumptions Live
Not everything that seems inevitable really is. Consider automation. It’s a Hard Trend that intelligent automation will continue replacing repetitive work. But how people feel about that automation, whether they fear it or embrace it, is a Soft Trend.
Leaders who communicate clearly, involve employees early, and make upskilling a core part of the transition can influence how automation is received. The fear of job loss shifts to a sense of professional evolution. The perception of being replaced becomes one of being empowered.
Similarly, in 2026, AI’s value will still depend on one thing: the quality of the data it’s fed. Poor data leads to poor decisions, and yet, fragmented or inaccurate data is everywhere. That’s not inevitable. It’s a Soft Trend, and one you can influence.
Organizations that treat data as an asset, not an afterthought, build stronger, faster, and more trustworthy decision systems. Clean data isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention. When you unify your data with purpose, the results speak for themselves.
Anticipating Customers Beats Reacting to Them
Customer expectations are evolving faster than ever. They now expect their experiences with your company to match the ease, speed, and personalization they get from Netflix, Amazon, or Uber. You can’t control that comparison, but you can meet it.
You influence the customer experience by designing with anticipation in mind. Tools like predictive analytics, intelligent self-service, and proactive alerts don’t just improve service, they demonstrate that you understand customers before they even ask. That builds loyalty, not just satisfaction.
This principle applies beyond technology. The role you choose to play in the growing ecosystem economy is another Soft Trend. Will you integrate, lead, partner, or sit out? That decision is still yours. The earlier you act, the more power you have to define your place in a value-sharing economy that rewards openness and collaboration.
Some Soft Trends Can’t Be Influenced, But You Still Need to Prepare
Let’s be clear: not all Soft Trends are within your reach. But even if you can’t shape them, you can plan for them. Industry consolidation, for instance, can disrupt markets overnight. While you can’t stop a merger or acquisition, you can position your business with strategic clarity, adaptability, and relevance that outlasts the shake-up.
Shifting public sentiment is another factor. Attitudes around AI, privacy, remote work, and sustainability are constantly evolving. You won’t control the narrative, but you can control your response. In a noisy, skeptical world, authenticity cuts through. Listening matters more than broadcasting. Purpose wins over speed.
The same holds true for your dependence on platforms and vendors. You won’t dictate their roadmaps, but you do choose how flexible your tech stack is. Modular, multi-cloud, API-driven design isn’t just smart, it’s necessary. It gives you maneuverability when others are stuck waiting.
What You Influence Defines How You Lead
Knowing what you can’t change helps you focus on what you can change. That shift in mindset, from reactive to anticipatory, is what separates tomorrow’s leaders from today’s survivors.
That’s the essence of my Anticipatory Organization® Model. It’s not about forecasting disruption. It’s about influencing it. You identify Soft Trends, act on them early, and turn uncertainty into opportunity. You pre-solve problems before they escalate. You move before the market shifts, not after.
If you’re ready to shape your next chapter instead of waiting to see what happens, I invite you to explore how anticipatory leadership works in practice.
There’s more of the future in your hands than you realize. The key is knowing where to look and what to do once you see it.
To continue the conversation, visit my website, or connect with me directly on LinkedIn.
