As I have observed dozens of professionals transition into new jobs over the years, one of the key ingredients to their success in a new environment has been the level of communication shared with the new employer. Starting with the interview process, the more forthcoming the hiring company has been, and the fewer negative surprises the new employee experiences, the stronger the commitment and willingness to stick it out through difficult times.

If your company is facing tough challenges, you want to find the person who will come in with their eyes wide open and with the confidence and skill to meet those challenges. There are people out there who welcome a challenge -- and these are the people you want -- if challenge is what you have to offer. This is a much better scenario than the employee who comes into a situation filled with "surprises" and takes months to recover from the shock -- if he or she lasts that long. Even if a poor economy traps someone in a job for the time being, this does not mean the person is going to give his/her best to the job.

The organizations that will overcome the challenges presented by this uncertain economic climate are those with a dedicated team fully committed to the goals at hand. This type of dedication is nurtured by trust -- the trust that comes from telling the truth, no matter how hard that truth is.