Dear Friends,

There is no escaping the daily news: foreclosures, corporate layoffs, government bailouts and continuing unsettled global financial markets. Most economists expect it will be early 2010 before we see any signs of recovery.

These are unprecedented times, to be sure. And it will take unprecedented measures to navigate your business and steer a successful course for your personal brand.

If you are an executive who has been displaced--especially in the automotive, retail, media, marketing services or financial services industry--your employment prospects are significantly reduced. This means the length of your search process will likely be extended. It also raises the strategic question, "Should you be looking at a different sector or career path?"

Our message this month is about Top 10 Ways to Create a Successful Transition, whether a personal or business transition. First and foremost, this is not a time to panic or let negative emotions take center stage. This is a time to respond, not react, a time to step up and make the tough and bold decisions you need to make. Use this period for creative thinking and "outside-the-box" solutions. Make it your personal "call to action."

For example, several of the CEOs we are working with have recently cut marginal players from their senior leadership team, executives who have been around awhile but are not stepping up as we all need to do. They have replaced these individuals with less senior talent, men and women who are ready and excited to step up to a new challenge. Recessions are an excellent time for this type of “gut check" by CEOs. Perhaps some of your senior leaders have lost their passion for the business, and their "one foot in, one foot out" mentality is sending off the wrong signals internally.

The broader question is: Do you have all the ready, willing and able key people and the business model you need to take your company through the fire and to the next level? If not, this is your opportunity to make strategic changes and bring in exceptional talent. "Over-qualified" and available talent abounds. This new blood can help you shift your business model, reignite a new period of growth and remove fear. Fear produces lack of focus, loss of high quality production and gossip.

Some of the C-level executives we coach have faced a new CEO entering their business with a different philosophy or a significant reduction in strategic budget commitment to their area. They have decided it is time to pursue something entirely different. Obviously, in this recessionary environment, a career change may take longer to materialize. If you are an executive in transition, we encourage you to (1) be more strategic about your career path options; (2) do your homework on the next industry and company you are thinking about joining; (3) consider part-time consulting en route to a new opportunity to extend your timeline for finding the right next opportunity; and (4) build a support community to help you navigate this transition.

With so many of our connections and clients looking for support, we recently announced Power Circles, a new Executive Connections coaching service that connects small groups of senior executives to support each other and be supported by us. The breadth of our senior level relationships, our connecting skills and the need for more support in this economic environment spurred us to make this new service available March 1, 2009. See below for more info.

Bottom Line: This is a time to respond vs. react, a time to utilize for both personal and business reinvention. What are you doing differently as it relates to your bottom line? We want to know.

All the Best,

Jeff Gundersen, CEO jgundersen@executiveconnectscom
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

Adaptability: How to Survive in Today's Business Climate

You can throw out the rule book! Change is real, it's upon us and it is here to stay. It can be scary, unfamiliar and even paralyzing. So how do we survive through such turbulent times?

Though we can't control the economy (who can?), we can control our response and reaction to it. Every crisis creates a positive by-product: opportunity. It's more important than ever to think creatively and adapt "on-the-fly" to seize those opportunities. Companies that do so will thrive, even during the most challenging times. So we say: be flexible, learn to adapt.

Here are some survival strategies for these uncertain times:
Read full article.

Top 10 Ways to Create a Successful Transition
Transitions can be stressful and sometimes painful if you are not prepared--whether they're due to a layoff, a new job, career change, or working extra hours because other workers were laid off. If you're facing one, we want you to consider the following:
Read full article.

Wondering Why You Should Join the "Power Circles" Program from Executive Connections?

Over the next few weeks, EC will create a few "Power Circles" of senior executives and provide executive coaching, consulting and advising in both a group call and one-to-one. You’ll receive a blended coaching and advisory solution and derive great benefits from new relationships with other Power Circle members.

Just a few of the myriad of benefits:

• Expand the number of relevant, C-level senior level connections available to you.
• Become part of an exclusive, invitation-only, C-level executive "virtual" club.
• Gain new insights and fresh perspectives from discussions with C-level professionals in a private group setting.
• Discover EC connections that can help you land jobs and close deals.

Learn more about Power Circles - Contact Jeff today at jgundersen@executiveconnects.com or 941-323-8300

DMA Leaders' Forum 2009
Mon-Wed, February 23-25, 2009
A Leadership Paradigm for Unprecedented Times
Survive, Thrive and Grow
Visit website for more details.

14th Annual Best Practices in Retail Financial Services Symposium
Sun-Tue, March 15-17, 2009
Gear Up for the Opportunities Ahead

Visit website for more details.

Retail banking is once again becoming the area of growth in the industry. To compete, you will need access to the most current and pertinent information from industry's most trusted experts. American Banker's 14th Annual Best Practices in Retail Financial Services Symposium, March 15-17, 2009, in Florida, will gather industry's leading experts who have perfected best practices you can leverage in your business. Don't miss this critical industry gathering.

Special offer to Executive Connections clients*: Register online with PROMO CODE: EC09 and receive $400 discount off the current conference rates. Click here to register online.

*This offer is valid for new registrations only. Current conference registrants are not eligible. No refunds will be issued. Source Media cancellation policy applies.

The AdAge Digital Conference
Tue-Wed, April 7-8, 2009
Sheryl Sandberg, Simon Clift, John Stratton to keynote
Visit website for more details.