A new kind of leadership is emerging in lieu of a tough economy reveal findings of the 2008 Management Action Programs Inc. (MAP) Quarterly CEO Survey conducted by Vantage Research. In fact, many CEOs are refraining from making bold, sudden business moves opting rather to hunker down and focus on building up the business. With this change in drive and direction, CEOs are fine-tuning internal operations by bolstering the quality of company culture, internal communications and customer service. These changes are expected to help companies stay on track while the economy hovers in uncertainty. Of the CEOs surveyed, 73% claim that economy won't improve for at least 12 months. What's more, MAP's study indicates that in coming to grips with the long-term realities of the slowdown, these CEOs have completed most major business moves, such as cost-containment and workforce reduction. Now, these leaders are more involved with reassuring and supporting employees by frequent, mostly face-to-face updates about company financials, results and strategies. According to Lee Froschheiser, president/CEO of MAP the MAP survey results highlight the major significance of strengthening business fundamentals and, especially, communication - clear communication being key to a business leader's success. "This means that to properly manage and grow a business through tough times, you must be an effective, compelling communicator," Froschheiser says. "Great CEOs are doing this by implementing regular meetings, adopting a transparent leadership style, and creating a very candid workplace culture. They're also boosting company-client communications with better customer-service. These changes produce an open environment, which is the necessary breeding ground for establishing successful strategies and achieving a company's goals."

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