Before 2026: Why a Strategic Audit Matters
As we close out 2025, many organizations have refreshed their strategic plans or built brand-new ones. That’s great news. But a plan on paper is only the beginning. The real question is: How do you know your strategy is actually working?
This is where a strategic audit comes in. And no, this isn’t a New Year’s resolution. Unlike resolutions which rely on optimism and are declared once a year, audits rely on evidence and should be revisited regularly (i.e., quarterly). Resolutions fade but audits can keep us accountable and on track all year long.
Think of a strategic audit as checking the wheels before a long trip. We’re not reinventing anything—we’re simply making sure everything is aligned, secure, and ready to carry us into 2026.
Why a Strategic Audit Matters
1. It keeps your plan alive rather than forgotten
Many strategic plans die quietly, not because they’re wrong, but because leaders assume things are on track without stopping to check. A strategic audit forces a pause:
Is what we said we’d do actually happening?
Are our priorities still the right priorities?
This moment of honesty prevents drift and helps organizations stay intentional.
2. It strengthens staff alignment
Research in organizational psychology consistently shows that clarity and alignment drive engagement. When staff understand what the goals are, why they matter, and how their work contributes, they’re more motivated and more effective. A strategic audit highlights where alignment is strong and where messages have gotten muddled.
3. It helps you pivot early (before it becomes a headache)
Leaders often think they need a major reset when something isn’t working. In reality, most strategies need small course corrections, not full overhauls. A strategic audit helps you pinpoint what needs adjusting before it becomes a bigger issue.
What a Strategic Audit Actually Is
A strategic audit is a structured check-in that is simple, practical, and grounded in evidence. It isn’t a full evaluation or a re-write. It’s a way to examine three core areas:
Your plan (Is it still relevant?)
Your people (Are they aligned, informed, and engaged?)
Your progress (Are you on track or drifting?)
You can do this in a couple of hours, not days or weeks, if you ask the right questions.
How to Run a Simple, Useful Strategic Audit
Below are practical, research-based questions you can use with your leadership team or your whole organization. Keep the conversation candid and focused.
1. Audit Your Plan: Is it still the right plan?
Ask:
What has changed in our environment (internally and externally) since we created this plan?
Which priorities still make sense and which feel outdated?
Where are we overcommitting? Where are we undercommitting?
If we had to choose only three strategic priorities for 2026, would they be the same ones?
These questions keep your strategy relevant instead of rigid.
2. Audit Your People: Do staff understand and feel connected to the strategy?
Ask:
If I asked five staff to explain our strategy, would their answers be similar?
Do people understand why our goals matter?
Do teams see how their work contributes to the bigger picture?
Where is there confusion, fatigue, or skepticism?
If answers are vague, inconsistent, or hesitant, alignment work, not a new plan, is likely what’s needed.
3. Audit Your Progress: Are we doing what we said we’d do?
Ask:
Which initiatives are clearly moving? Which ones are stalled?
What data do we have about progress and what data are we missing?
Are our current resources (people, time, budget) actually supporting our priorities?
What’s getting in the way and what do we need to unblock it?
This helps ensure you don’t just have a strategy on paper but that you’re putting it into action and making meaningful progress.
What to Do With What You Learn
A good strategic audit should leave you with one of three paths:
Stay the course – If everything is aligned and progressing, you simply tighten communication and continue.
Adjust the plan – You refine priorities, scope, or timelines without rewriting the whole strategy.
Adjust how you work – Often the plan is fine; it’s the processes, communication, or resource allocation that need attention.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s clarity.
Starting 2026 with Intention (Not Resolutions)
Organizations don’t need grand declarations at the start of the year—they need intentional, realistic direction. Strategic audits give leaders:
confidence that the strategy still fits,
clarity about what needs attention, and
alignment across teams so everyone pulls in the same direction.
It’s not about reinvention. It’s about making sure your overall direction, priorities, and team are positioned to execute with purpose and momentum.
If you want to encourage engagement, resilience, and sustained progress in 2026, start with an audit - not a resolution.