Read this article from chiefexecutive.net which is a Q&A from the world's fastest man Usain Bolt and his coach Glen Mills. It gives some interesting insights into the process of translating potential into achievements.

In this article from the Wall Street Journal last week, the authours give insight into an often overlooked facet of talent management during tough economic times "Companies that neglect the issue during a downturn maybe in for a nasty surprise when things start looking up." Read the article on the Wall Street Journal website here.

Check out this article from the Globe & Mail which points to some interesting research that suggests "decision makers who share a psychological connection with their predecessors....are subconsciously motivated to continue past policies and investment rather than make big changes." Read the article in its entirety here.

"Even amid a downturn, unexpected opportunities await executives who can capitalize on their firms' internal strengths" says McKinsey's Jiri Maly in this article that appeared in the Globe & Mail last week. Mr. Maly points to a recent McKinsey study that found adaptable organizations are more likely to thrive coming out of downturn. Read the article on the Globe & Mail website here.

"I think the optimism is increasing as we go forward" says Bedford Managing Partner Russ Buckland, in this article that appeared in the Financial Post last week. The article posits that mining executives are moving out of "survival mode" and beginning to bolster their teams. Read the whole article on the Financial Post website here.

Nothing defines business possibility more clearly than the quality, capability, flexibility and speed of response of the key teams that populate your organization. The Bedford Consulting Group and Leadership Advisor Dr. John Burdett, have launched a Coaching the team assessment tool. The proprietary workbook will allow team leaders and/or team members to "step back and reflect on the quality of the team that is being led or that they are part of...providing a platform to orchestrate the changes needed to "coach" the team to the next level." Contact The Bedford Consulting Group for more details.

Take a look at this article which highlights the findings of a recent survey conducted by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) regarding executive tenure.

Tough times call for a different type of leadership, but what kind of leadership qualities are desirable in our economic environment? We tend to associate the hardened, outgoing leaders who take control and shoot from the hip as the type of leaders that are successful in tough times. But this is not necessarily the case according to workplace expert Jennifer Kahnweiler in her new book The Introverted Leader: Building on You Quiet Strength, read the synopsis of her argument here on the Globe & Mail website.

On May 25th, 2009, Bedford Resources hosted a Mining Executive Roundtable at which some 12 senior executives from a variety of base metal producers, EPCM contractors and intermediate and junior firms attended to discuss, in-camera, how their firms have been dealing with the turbulence in financial markets and the impact on their operations.  The group also discussed how they were planning for the rebound and reviewed some of the results from the recently released Bedford Resources Global Mining Survey.

This article, which appeared in the New York Times in May, explores the most important characteristics and abilities for a CEO. The conclusions drawn may surprise you, check out the article here.

Take a look at this blog entry regarding Bedford's Global Mining Survey by Senior Writer Sharda Prashad of Canadian Business online,  read the bog entry on the Canadian Business website here.

Check out the interesting approach Google has undertaken to attenuate the "brain drain." Read the article here.

An international report released this week by the Bedford Consulting Group illustrates optimism for the international mining industry for 2009. Read the key findings of the report Bedford_MiningReport2009.pdf

Listen to Bedford's Managing Director Howard Pezim discuss on 680News why inspirational leadership is a key characteristic for CEOs to have during tough economic times. Pezim_680News.mp3

In this morning's Globe and Mail, Harvey Schachter reviews the book "Who" by Geoff Smart and Randy Street of ghSmart, strategic partners with the Bedford Group. Read the review on the Globe and Mail website here.

"A downturn is also a great time to snatch up new talent and get a head start on the war on talent, which will resume in full force once the economy picks up" says the CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Perrin Beatty, in this interesting article by Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco, from Monday's Financial Post. The article explores how having a positive outlook can increase the odds of small businesses surviving difficult times. Check out the article here.

"This is the exact time to invest- if you can- because not only is there opportunity, but there are lots of resources out there" says Founder and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis. Check out the article here and see how RIM ( and other Canadian-based tech companies) are anticipating waves of hires as the broader Canadian economy sheds jobs.

Check out this interesting letter written by Gregg Thompson, President of Blueprint Leadership Development. The letter is written from the perspective of a President/CEO looking back at 2009. View the letter here.

In yesterday's Globe & Mail, a thought provoking article by Eric Reguly on true leadership in turbulent times, the man behind Italian auto maker Fiat's turnaround, Italian-Canadian Chief Executive Officer, Sergio Marchionne. Read the article here.

In the January 19th issue of BusinessWeek, Emily Thorton pens an interesting article on how leaders can effectively manage through the economic crisis, " The pie is getting smaller, and less nimble rivals are getting weaker. Don't wait for your competitors to fall to the ground. Hire away their best people while taking steps to make sure they don't grab yours." Read the whole article on the BusinessWeek website here.