[Excerpt] Times of economic hardship and prosperity both pose unique challenges to companies and their talent management practices. On one hand, while companies are experiencing contraction, employers may neglect motivating and developing their employees. Conversely, during periods of expansion, companies may set themselves on an unsustainable course that may lead to dramatic consequences when leaner times prevail. Indeed, it is easy for companies to fall into talent management traps both in times of growth and recession.