The Upside of the Downturn

Geoff Colvin, one of America's most respected business journalists, says even the scariest recession has an upside. The best managers know conventional thinking won't help them win in these tough times. They're taking smart, practical steps that will not only keep them strong, but will also distance them from the pack for years to come.

In his latest work, Colvin, author of the bestselling Talent is Overrated, offers ten solidly grounded strategies that will increase your company's competitiveness and build its long-term value.

• The structure of industries will change profoundly as various players disappear and others transform themselves.
• The six key categories that shape performance and viability are financial strength, competitive advantage, government intervention, the state of your customers, your reputation and your risks.
• The true costs of layoffs and whether they will actually get you the benefits you’re counting on.
• One way to think through the matter of your strategy and business model in this recession is to answer three basic questions.