ForConstructionPros.com

Many business owners are anxious over the current economic situation, but according to some experts, you can actually use the economic downturn to create a better organization.

According to David Giannetto, coauthor with Anthony Zecca of The Performance Power Grid: The Proven Method to Create and Sustain Superior Organizational Performance, there are several ways to steer your business through the economic downturn:

No. 1 - In business, only the strong survive. During an economic downturn, many business owners overlook the fact that their competitors are suffering too - and what results from the slowdown is still an even playing field.

No. 2 - Use the hype to focus your employees. "The slowdown creates what I like to call a 'momentary unifying factor'- something that allows each employee to set aside their individual concerns and rally around a greater common cause," says Giannetto.

No. 3 - Expand, don't contract. It seems counterintuitive, but great companies expand during slowdowns; they don't pull back. Take advantage of the fact that the weakest organizations will be going out of business, losing critical funding and cutting operations, and/or letting go of critical but expensive assets and people.