Greetings from Hong Kong!

Lorraine White, our Chief Coaching Officer, and I are here in Hong Kong providing on-site transition support coaching for the senior executives we recently placed, along with other key executives, in a global insurance and asset management firm. Our client is the CEO of the firm's Asia region comprising businesses in 12 countries in the Asia region.

As we manage through this global economic recession, it is interesting to work in a different region of the world. Asia has been growing in double digits over the past several years, fueled by exploding economies including China and India. You can feel the effects of the global financial crisis here, including the meltdown of AIG and other banking and financial institutions (HSBC, Standard Charter Bank). Some Asian companies are cutting back staff and budgets, based on experiencing year-to-year sales reductions that they have not experienced in several years. However, you would never know it by all the amazing stores and purchasing power of the people.

Speaking of the people, people in Hong Kong could not be more accommodating. They are refreshingly polite and provide world-class, exceptional service. We are staying at the Four Seasons hotel in Hong Kong and have consistently received service and experiences beyond our expectations. What it underscores in our minds is that even in times like these (and maybe especially in economic times like these), premium brands can retain and build business relationships with devoted customers who are receiving all the business and personal support they require. From the moment we arrived at the Hong Kong airport to the business center, we have experienced friendly and courteous staff who all know our names and give us the feeling we are their top priority when we call at any time of day or night. I am a raving fan!

The month's theme is the paramount importance of "communication."

Ask yourself: "Why do I need to communicate now more than ever?" "What is the message I want to communicate?" "Why is it important?" "What do I want to communicate and how do I communicate it?"

Powerfully communicating pro-actively with employees at all levels, as they wonder whether recent cutbacks are just the first in a series that will eventually eliminate their position, builds trust and eliminates fear and gossip.

"Times of economic recession will punish mediocrity...but it will reward excellence," commented the Asia Region CEO we visited at a recent Asia regional meeting of their top 200 executives. Taking this type of dramatic and bold step--bringing top people together to assure them of the company's financial viability and its strategies to gain market share during this downturn--is an excellent example of the type of group and one-on-one communications that are required during a downturn.

The attached article from John McCreight, a former partner of mine at Deloitte Consulting, titled "Strategic Restructuring...Engaging the Survivors" outlines several key communication strategies. We have heard many of these from numerous CEOs we speak with, and they bear repeating. They are: (1) Respect survivors and engage them in restructuring plans, (2) Be positive and emphatic about how your business can win market share, emphasizing the need for exceptional customer service, (3) Communicate effectively (be realistic and speak the truth), and (4) Build trust with the remaining core team of senior leaders and survivors. Click here to download the article.

I was recently with Kevin Ryan, ex-CEO of DoubleClick, who had to manage the business through a couple of major economic recessions. Kevin emphasized the need to make sure the executive leadership team is committed to the long-term vision and can remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for the industry and the company during a down cycle. If, as CEO, you sense one or more members of the senior team have lost their faith or commitment, you need to act immediately to recommit them or make them part of the downsizing. And you need proactive human resource and communication strategies to retain and advance the top 10-20% of the talent in your organization, because these people represent the future leaders of your company.

We have also heard the reactions of many people here in Hong Kong to Barack Obama's election and cabinet appointments. There is a clear sense of hopefulness and optimism that Obama will represent a positive change for the world. It is clear, that while the United States has many challenges and problems to address, the world is rooting for our leadership to get our country straightened out so we can lead the world economy back to a better place. Hopefully you can rally your people to get behind you and do the same.

We were with a colleague last evening who has been asking his senior leadership what else he can do in the current environment to "add value" and contribute to one of the company's top strategic priorities. Ask yourself the same question: "What else can I do and how can I be proactive in the current situation?" Send your CEO a signal that you are not paralyzed but seizing opportunities to drive the business forward. Stay focused and stay positive!

Best regards,

Jeff Gundersen, CEO jgundersen@executiveconnects.com
Executive Connections, LLC
Executive Search, Executive Coaching & Consulting for Top-Level Executives
Direct: 941-323-8300 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              941-323-8300      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
http://www.executiveconnects.com

Managing & Developing Your Personal Brand: Finalize the Plan
December - Part 3 of a 3-part Series

October - Part 1 - Create the Vision/Plan

November - Part 2 - Refine the Plan

This is the final installment of our 2009 PERSONAL BRAND PLAN series. We hope we have given you lots of food for thought. Have you made any changes? Have you altered things that were not supporting your brand? Have you made time to REALLY take this work seriously so that you gain traction against the competition and prepare to take your game to the next level?

Today's exercises will help you answer three final questions:

Click here to download the December PERSONAL BRAND PLAN worksheet.

"I continue to be impressed by your professionalism and unique approach, which truly sets you apart."
~Janet Oak
Managing Director, Strategy and Innovation
Just Kid Inc.

"Thank you for 'closing the loop.' I appreciate your doing so, and applaud you as a rarity in this business."
~John Wold

"Jeff, I want to thank YOU for your inspirational message and solid advice. I met you at a conference in Chicago, and of all the career advice that's out there, yours is the best. These are tough times on marketing executives, and with all the budget and people cuts, you can sometimes simply lose hope. You have helped me keep focused on moving forward and continuing to turn my challenges into new opportunities."
~Stephen Zubrod

The EC Talent Alert! service offers our select executive coaching clients in career transition the vast resources of the Executive Connections team to explore a range of new opportunities.

Every year, the Talent Alert Division of Executive Connections LLC selects and coaches--pro-bono--one or two "Rising Young Stars" and then presents them to you, our connections, for your consideration--at no cost to you!

These are talented, motivated, entry-level future leaders you will be eager to consider. Working with them is part of our ongoing commitment to coaching individuals who will make a difference and to providing you with the opportunity to have these young leaders "pre-screened and buffed."

Today, we are pleased to introduce you to Caitrin Fee, one of this year's "Rising Young Stars."

Caitrin is seeking a full-time creative position where her fine art, entreprenurial and leadership skills will be fully maximized. We are confident Caitrin will make a strong, positive contribution to your organization, should you choose to employ her.

To learn more about Caitrin, click here.

Gridley & Co.
8th Annual Information, Marketing and Financial Technologies Conference
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Jumeirah Essex House
New York City
website: http://www.gridleyevents.com/