With world trade growing nearly 10 percent in 2010 and projected to grow again this year, it appears the worst recession in recent memory is behind us. But dark clouds remain, among them the debt crisis and the financial uncertainties it poses, widening trade imbalances and failure to come to grips with international currency issues.
The biggest challenge for global logistics companies is keeping those dark clouds from raining on the parade — no simple task given the macroeconomic issues largely beyond our control. That means focusing on those things within our control, such as more effective communication, preserving our corporate culture and innovation.
Open communications are a key to building stronger relationships with employees and customers and responding quickly to problems before they become disasters. The free flow of ideas, trends and perspective — even if they aren’t perfect — earns trust, and gives us the power to adjust and make decisions quickly before things go bump in the night.
As the glue that holds an organization together, particularly in tough times, the importance of corporate culture can’t be overstated.
Finally, the lifeblood of any successful enterprise is innovation, often the first casualty of an economic downturn. In tough times, nothing can be more important than nurturing employees to boost morale and — who knows? — develop exciting new ideas.
The moral of the story: When the going gets tough, the tough rely