The yo-yo economy that we're suffering through has everyone running scared right from the highest levels of largest organizations the lowest levels of small organizations. Everyone either is or should be concerned with what is happening to the economy as a whole and how those happenings impact their own families.

Our organization is no different and I wouldn't expect it to be any different. Some of our employees are actually optimistic and have increased their 401k purchases. Other employees have paused those investments. Some employees look at our sales and profits to-date for 2008 and see that we're in the same ballpark for both as we were in 2007. Sales are a little down yet the number of large, pending proposals is higher than it was a year ago and gross profits are up.

Today one of my employees suggested that I better communicate to all of our employees how we're doing. The suggestion was a great one and I did so right away. Our culture is to be open, transparent, and honest. If we're struggling, I want our employees to know. If we're kickin' butt, I want our employees to know. But to only tell them when we're struggling or only tell them when we're kickin' butt isn't open enough, isn't transparent enough, and isn't honest enough for us. Is it for your organization?