Long-term business planning is giving way to rolling three-month strategies as companies respond to continuing economic and political uncertainty, according to new research commissioned by business advisers and accountants TC Group, which has offices in Milton Keynes and Northampton.
The report, based on a survey of more than 1,500 UK business leaders, found that 39% of respondents can now only plan one quarter ahead, while just 42% can confidently plan for the next year. Only 18% said they could plan three years or more into the future, reflecting a growing preference for shorter, more flexible planning cycles.
Despite the uncertainty, business confidence remains relatively resilient. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they were confident they could navigate another major disruption, although only one in eight felt fully in control of their business operations. Political factors were cited by 40% of business leaders as the biggest challenge to their mental resilience.
The findings are published in TC Group’s latest report, Success Without Stillness: Leadership in Motion, which examines how business owners are adapting to a business environment shaped by economic uncertainty, technological change and evolving workplace expectations.
Stephen Watts, Chief Operating Officer at TC Group, said: “The businesses we work with are building scenario plans for multiple futures rather than waiting for certainty that may never arrive. That’s the mindset that’s helping business leaders stay confident, even with so much sitting outside their control.”
The report suggests businesses are increasingly replacing fixed long-term strategies with rolling forecasts and scenario planning, allowing them to respond more quickly to changing market conditions while maintaining longer-term ambitions. It found that 60% of business leaders view clear strategy and planning as their greatest source of resilience during periods of uncertainty.
The research also highlights the personal pressures facing business owners. More than nine in 10 respondents said they struggle to switch off from work without feeling anxiety or guilt, while almost half said they have become more cautious about taking business risks than they were in previous years.
Alongside changing approaches to planning, business leaders are also redefining what success means. Personal growth emerged as the highest-ranked measure of success, ahead of financial performance, developing employees and providing family security, suggesting a broader view of leadership than financial results alone.
Stephen said: “Financial success still matters, but it is no longer the only measure. For many business owners, success is also about building something sustainable, developing people, protecting family security and creating a business that still feels worth the effort.
“The strongest businesses are not those where one person carries everything alone. They are the ones where responsibility is shared, good people are trusted and the right external support is brought in at the right time.
“That is where trusted advisers can make a real difference – not by simplifying the world business owners operate in, but by helping them navigate it with better insight, stronger foundations and more confident decision-making. The road ahead will continue to shift; our job is to make sure businesses are ready to move with it.”
The report concludes that business leaders are not abandoning growth ambitions but are becoming more adaptable in how they plan, make decisions and respond to uncertainty. Rather than waiting for stability to return, many are building resilience through shorter planning cycles, stronger support networks and greater flexibility.
