I am a very fortunate person. From 1993 to 1997, I was the business manager for Cronkite, Ward & Company – Walter Cronkite’s television production company. It wasn’t my first job, but it was early enough in my career to help shape who I’ve become as a professional. Most important, it gave me the opportunity to spend time with the “most trusted man in America.”

After stepping down as the anchor at CBS Evening News in 1981, Mr. Cronkite continued to appear as a special correspondent for CBS, PBS, and CNN. He also appeared frequently as a special guest or host for numerous television shows, such as the Kennedy Center Honors. In 1993, he partnered with Jonathan Ward to start his production company – Cronkite, Ward & Company, which produced more than 40 award-winning documentary hours for PBS and the Discovery Channel.

Cronkite-Ward had offices in both New York and Washington, DC. I worked in the DC office located in Dupont Circle. Although Mr. Cronkite spent most of his time in New York, I would talk with him frequently by phone and see him on his regular trips to DC, and my occasional trips to New York.

The highlight for me each year was attending the company Christmas party that Mr. Cronkite would host at his brownstone in Manhattan. His home was full of the most marvelous memorabilia from his decades as a reporter, which took him to every corner of the planet to interview world leaders and witnesses to history. His eyes would literally sparkle as he would tell you about each photo or keepsake.

With Mr. Cronkite, he was everything that you saw on camera, and more. He had the curiosity of a 12-year old. He was a great listener and gave you every bit of his attention when speaking with you. He generously gave you his time. And he was in every sense a gentleman.

In the few days since his death, there has been much written and said about the impact that Walter Cronkite has had on America and the world. Television news veteran and fellow CBS colleague, Bob Schieffer, said during a Sunday interview that “with Walter, it was always about the news; it wasn’t about Walter Cronkite.”

That really says a lot about the man I had the honor of knowing. We all could learn from his example. Success and trust are earned, and derived from the focus and attention you give to the task at hand, not from how much you attempt to shine light back onto yourself.

I still see that sparkle, and I still hear his voice.

A friend of mine who is a senior executive for a Fortune 100 company was recently telling me about her company’s serious morale problems among its employees. This company had already gone through one round of layoffs, and had just announced that another round was coming soon. According to her, these actions and the threat of additional downsizing had literally sapped the life out of employee morale throughout the company.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not limited to one company and is playing itself out across corporate America. With a national unemployment rate nearing 10 percent, and unemployment well into the double digits in many parts of the country, no wonder so many employees are feeling anxious about their futures.

And this anxiety comes at a cost. Employee performance and productivity suffers. A risk-averse mentality sets in. Meanwhile, creativity and innovation all but dry up. 

So what can a company do to fend off low morale and anxious employees during these troubled times? 

First, you can openly acknowledge the stress that employees are under, and appreciate that the stress they are feeling at work is even greater at home. Resist attempts for a quick fix such as a social “morale event,” which may be effective during ordinary times – but these times are far from ordinary. Such efforts could be seen as ill-timed and a wasteful use of funds in light of laid-off colleagues. 

Next, focus on the individual. Meet with each employee; admit the stressful nature of the environment, but encourage them to step up and use this opportunity to persevere and shine. Seek their opinions and engage them on how to make the company stronger. Single out the highest performers and look for ways to cost-effectively reward them with leadership training, a title promotion, expanded responsibilities, and/or a stock grant. 

Even in tough economic times, companies can and should find ways to reward and challenge their most promising employees. These are the ones who can help set the example for others to follow during a stressful period.

Finally, it will be up to the company’s leadership team to set the positive tone for the organization. Executives and managers who are confident in the company’s future and the potential of its employees, are in the best position to lead the organization to success.

When you’re 10 points down, and there’s only two minutes left on the clock, it comes down to a motivated coach, a dedicated and talented team, a winning game plan, and a bit of creative spirit to achieve the desire goal.