Is the recession over? That depends on who you ask. Some say yes, some say no, some just don't know. Amidst that much uncertainty about the present, it's hard to look too far into the future. But to succeed, you must. Here's a suggestion -- don't worry about whether the recession is over or not. Instead spend your energy on ensuring you have a great plan to move into the future. Just as important, make sure everyone in your organization knows what that plan is and knows what makes them vital in that plan's success.

There are several lists available highlighting companies who were founded during recession or who struggled through recession or depression and survived and even excelled. Most impressive though are companies founded during depression. Companies such as Revlon (1932), GE (1873), and Hewlett Packard (1939) were founded by forward looking people who did not let the terrible economic situation of their time dissuade them.

Each of these companies benefitted from leaders who had a single minded focus on success and how to achieve it, and that's what will make a company successful now. The leader's vision, clearly stated and loudly proclaimed provides the entire organization with the leader's intent. That vision isn't just a bumper sticker or slogan. It's what the leader truly feels the organization can do. I say loudly proclaimed because people will not give much credence to a vision that the leader doesn't appear to truly believe.

The entire organization must also know what the organization is there to accomplish. Now days we call that a mission statement. I don't think that term was prevalent during the depression, but a review of the above named companies reveals the leaders knew what the company was about and what it needed to do to be successful.

In 1870s or 1930s America, motivating workers was a little different than today. In those days, it was often enough to give the worker a job and tell him (they were predominantly male) to get it done in a certain way. That will still work today, but the most successful organizations will go beyond that. To really excel, try informing your workers. Don't just tell them what they should do and how they should do it. While that's important, they also need to know what the vision is, what the mission is, and most importantly, what their part is in success.

Goal setting is very popular. Some do it well, some don't. But how many of you make sure the member's of your organization know first, what the goals are, second, how the goals will be accomplished, and third, what their part in that is? People who are engaged and feel they are really an important part of something are more likely to help the organization excel. If economic hard times mean you have to modify your goals, that's okay. Don't keep that a secret! Tell everyone and tell them why. Employee's loyalty is earned by honest communication.

So don't worry about whether the recession is ending or not. Rather, spend that energy on ensuring your organization knows what it's doing and that each member of the organization knows how they contribute to success. The future can be bright for those who plan for it!

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