What will 2026 require of you?

I love our Community of Practice.

Design Group International’s Community of Practice (CoP) are the individuals who practice their Process Consulting craft together on our platform. Our CoP has varied in size and scope over the past twenty-five years. We have always had senior professionals who care deeply about their Clients and how best to help them in whatever form that help takes. 

We meet on a monthly basis and during our December virtual gathering, my fellow partner Matt Visser, posed a question to everyone, ’What is the burning question you will face in 2026?’

My answer came quickly, What will 2026 require of me?

As many of you know, my Process Consulting practice has innovated (at least four times in my counting) over the past thirteen years. Each innovation has asked (required) of me something new and better in my leadership. My practice is innovating once again, and I know now that this innovation will again require something new and better from me.

When we innovate (turning an idea or invention into something new that creates value, improves upon an existing technology, or provides for an unmet need), we also learn.

This is one reason why innovation is difficult. Learning can be hard.

Sometimes we believe that we can innovate without learning. We believe that we can innovate by using our current knowledge, leveraging what we already know. This is folly and does not recognize the incredible value that learning brings to ourselves and others.

So, how is innovation connected to what will 2026 require of you?

Often, what is required of us is something new and we hope better. Such as a step we are wanting to take that we have not yet become willing to take.

The difference between wanting to willing is aided by learning.

This learning can take several forms. Learning more about ourselves, learning more about those around us, even learning more about the systems and structures keeping us from innovating and taking the step we are required to take.

As you consider your answer to what will 2026 require of you?, consider these humble inquiry-oriented questions:

Given your answers consider one more question: what is something new that you can learn that will aid you in meeting your answer to what will 2026 require of you?

As you form your answer to this question (What will 2026 require of you?), I encourage you to take a moment and write it down. Right here, right now.

Pause. Rest for a moment. Pause again. Now, look at your answer.

Set your phone’s timer for 45 seconds. Close your eyes and consider your answer.

When your timer rings, open your eyes slowly.

As you prepare to go on with your day, I encourage you to do one more thing.

Don’t tell anyone your answer. Let it be yours alone.

As you proceed in 2026, you are the only one who needs to know your answer to what is required of you.

As you meet this challenge, know that you are achieving what is required of you. In doing so, you are not only meeting this challenge you are building character at the same time.

Mind how you go.

Lon

Lon L. Swartzentruber

Design Group International
Co-CEO & Senior Design Partner

Along with a notebook and my favorite fountain pen, what’s in my backpack?

Becoming Trustworthy White Allies, by Melanie S. Morrison

Permission to Rest, by Ashley Neese

Teaming, by Amy Edmondson