Employment consulting and legal firm Career Protection says that according to their January survey of more than 1,300 corporate executives and senior-level officials there will be a 37 percent increase in layoffs this year compared with last year. (Workforce 1/29/07)

Yet it depends on who you survey. The majority of our clients sell productivity tools that have a reasonable return on investment so even if the economy cools off a bit their business should remain steady. Currently virtually all of our clients are growing and struggling to find people to hire!

No matter how the economy is performing the key is to manage your people systematically so employees are fully engaged, productive, and fulfilled in their work. If there are layoffs coming then be one of the fortunate companies that is hiring great talent that becomes available, rather than having to let them go.

What can you do now? Wise leaders are choosing one area of talent management - hiring, managing day-to-day, employee development or retention - and taking this opportunity to make their company better at it than they are today. Shrewd business people take advantage of business downturns. If you need help on how to best focus your efforts, let me know.