Business leaders believe that putting their faith in developing the skills and abilities of their workforce is the best way to reduce an organisation's exposure to the risk of recession, according to an international survey of senior business executives by global business performance consultancy, McKinney Rogers.

With recent media attention focusing on the impact of sub-prime lending and the possibility of the current economic downturn turning into a full-blown recession, the survey, called Economic Recession - Perceived Risks and Rewards, which encompassed Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the US, was designed to gauge awareness, perceptions and trends on the issue and what can be done to minimise the risk of a recession's impact on global business.

Key findings emerged when executives and business leaders were asked about the importance of tactical actions in reducing an organisation's exposure to the risk of recession. An overwhelming 78% of respondents cited the development of their workforce as the key tool for this, while 73% agree that moving into emerging markets that are unlikely to be affected by recession is also important. Diversifying the business offering was classed as significant for 67% of those surveyed. 

Conversely, reducing the number of employees (34%) and reducing marketing spend (23%) were classed as the least important tactics to pursue in safeguarding against recession. Other initiatives cited in the research were cutting prices to become more competitive (38%) and consolidating business premises and locations (50%).

Commenting on the research, Vince Pollaers, managing partner for Asia-Pacific at McKinney Rogers said: "It's interesting to see what business leaders focus on when recession is looming - their workforce and diversification. It's obvious that at times of economic slowdown getting organisational buy-in as a whole is vital, which is why taking a strong leadership approach is such a key part of thriving during these times. Leaders need to instil the ability to re-energise, re-think and re-focus the business, using realistic targets. A company's workforce is an essential tool in the business armoury when the going gets tough. Making productivity a focal point and rewarding those who rise to the top accordingly, will help reduce an organisation's exposure to the risk of recession."