HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Managing in a Downturn

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Like death and taxes, recessions are impossible to avoid. The key is to look at them not as doomsday scenarios but rather as opportunities to reinvent your business and strengthen your company’s culture. These insights tell you how.

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The Bottom Line

Like death and taxes, recessions are impossible to avoid. The key is to look at them not as doomsday scenarios but rather as opportunities to reinvent your business and strengthen your company’s culture. These insights tell you how.

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I. Introduction

Recessions are a cyclical part of the economy, occurring about once every four to five years. While some are more severe than others, the upshot is a drop in consumer confidence where spending slows and prices reset.

Recessions will be fatal for some businesses, but if you accept the fact that they’re inevitable and do all you can to prepare for tough times, you’ll increase your chances of weathering the storm.

To help, Harvard Business Review selected 10 articles that previously appeared in the magazine for a definitive guide on how to manage — and even thrive — in a downturn.

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II. A Strong Offense Is the Best Defense

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III. Manage Your Debt / Broaden Your Lens

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IV. Adapt or Perish / Be the Leader Your Employees Need

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V. Rethink Layoffs / Communication Is Key

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VI. Disrupt Yourself / Act Like a Survivor

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VII. Reshape Your Business for What’s Next

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