The 2026 CEO Reality Report

Your reality, in 14 questions.

Two ranking exercises, a few diagnostic questions, and some context about your company. About 8 minutes.

Question 8 of 14

Part 1 of 2 — The role itself

What's hardest about being in your seat?

Drag to rank these eight challenges from most painful (1) to least painful (8). There are no right answers — only honest ones.

1Carrying the biggest decisions alone, without anyone who can really challenge them
2Setting clear priorities and decisions — but struggling to hold myself and the team accountable to them
3Loneliness in the role — being surrounded by people but unable to fully share what I'm dealing with
4Running on empty — not enough energy, time, or recovery to lead well
5Living with the risk, anxiety, and stress that comes with the job
6The pressure to always project confidence, even when I'm not sure
7Doubting whether I'm still the right person to be running this
8Losing the passion for the business I once felt

Part 2 of 2 — The company you lead

What's hardest about the business you're running?

Drag to rank these six challenges from most pressing (1) to least pressing (6).

1Sales and revenue — the growth engine isn't where it needs to be
2People — finding, keeping, and getting the most from the right team
3AI and technology — what to adopt, when, and how
4Cash, margin, and financial resilience
5Strategy in a market that keeps shifting
6The exit, succession, or what's next for ownership

A few quick questions

On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that the most important decisions you made last quarter were the right ones?

What percentage of your strategic priorities from Q1 actually moved forward?

50%

How fulfilled are you in your role right now?

When you need to think through a major decision, who do you turn to?

Select all that apply.

The 3 a.m. question — what's the one thing on your mind right now that you don't have a clear answer to?

Optional. Your answer is anonymous and may be quoted, without attribution, in aggregate findings.

0/280

If you could solve one challenge in the next 90 days, what would it be?

Optional. Same anonymity rules.

0/280

Context

Your current role

Years in your current role

Annual revenue band (most recent full year)

Headcount

Industry

Country

Almost done

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