12 predictions that will shape 2026

Predictions are everywhere, but the real question is what is changing underneath them. In 2026, the pressure is stacking, the signals are getting noisier, and leaders will be judged on clarity and trust.

Anne Green and Steve Halsey share their 2026 predictions and use them as a way to talk through the forces reshaping how brands operate and communicate. They cover the volatility “pressure stack,” the trust crisis of synthetic reality, and why AI is moving from experimentation to standard operating practice, with discipline becoming the differentiator. They also dig into cross sector signals leaders cannot ignore, including the ripple effects of GLP-1s and the growing role of external validation in B2B. The episode lands on two clear leadership shifts: invest in the human side of AI transformation, and treat corporate narrative like an operating system, not a campaign.

In this episode:
• 12 predictions for 2026 across AI, trust, narrative, healthcare stress, and volatility
• Why synthetic content and compressed news cycles raise the bar for proof and credibility
• What AI standardization really means, plus the people gap leaders keep underfunding
• The case for narrative as an operating system that keeps your story coherent over time

00:00 – Welcome back to Grit & Growth: Real stories, real strategy
01:30 – The first time I lost a deal—and what I learned
03:45 – The mistake that almost ended our partnership
06:00 – How to build trust fast with skeptical clients
08:30 – Pricing strategy: Why we stopped undercharging
10:15 – The most unexpected lesson from getting ghosted
13:00 – Scaling pain: What we got wrong about hiring
16:20 – The mindset shift that changed our sales forever
20:00 – The deal we almost gave up on—and why we didn’t
25:10 – Final takeaway: Grit beats genius every time