Boards will prioritize strategy in 2026

Prepare for your company’s board to place a high emphasis on strategy and organic growth in 2026. Nearly eight out of 10 board members in the National Association of Corporate Directors’ latest governance survey said they expect their organizations to grow primarily through organic means this year, while only two in 10 said they expect inorganic growth (M&As, joint ventures, etc.) to be the main driver.

Strategy will also be top of mind. Three-fifths of board members said strategy was the top area they wanted to improve oversight around this year, and 62% said they’re discussing strategy more often during board meetings.

“That focus on execution is going to be big for both the CEOs and the CFOs,” NACD President and CEO Peter Gleason told CFO Brew. “That’s going to put pressure on both the CFOs and the CEOs.” CFOs could expect to spend a lot of time on capital allocation, both in AI investment and in other areas, he said.

Boards’ biggest concern heading into 2026 is the economy. One-third predicted a recession would occur by Q2, while 52% foresaw a “soft landing.”

Six in 10 respondents named changing economic conditions as the factor that would most affect their companies’ performance in 2026, mentioning issues such as inflation, commodity prices, interest rate changes, and the job market.

AI was the second-most-frequently cited trend affecting how well their companies will do in 2026, chosen by 47% of respondents. AI investments appear to be paying off: 75% of directors said the technology had brought them moderate or slight efficiency gains, while 60% said that it moderately or slightly boosted revenue.

Companies will continue to invest in AI, Gleason predicted, though perhaps not at the same pace they did in 2025. The focus of their investment may shift from software to employees, he said. “Their investments may be couched in talent and people but it may be in upskilling to meet the technology demands,” he said.

Directors also didn’t anticipate dramatic changes to the size of their workforces. Around a third said their headcount would stay the same (35%) and another third said it would expand slightly (33%), while a quarter (25%) expected a slight reduction.