For nearly a year, talk has revolved around surviving the recession. Now, companies are jockeying to be first out of the gate as the economy picks up.

Whether or not we’re already seeing the “green shoots” of an economic recovery, one thing is certain: Sooner or later, the recession will come to an end. And when it does, the wise manager will have positioned herself to take advantage of the uptick.

Numerous studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, strongly indicate that organizations that out-perform their competitors after a downturn do so in large part because they view a recession as an opportunity rather than a threat. In particular, they take the time to trim creeping inefficiency that’s hidden during good times and to motivate their best employees to take on entrepreneurial initiative. As a result, they approach economic recovery with increased structural flexibility and engaged team members who’ve been conditioned to challenge themselves and expand their abilities.

Those organizations that react to a recession by entering a panic-driven “crisis and maintenance” mode must reverse themselves during the initial stages of economic recovery. But organizations that took the opportunity to consolidate and improve their market position are already poised to capitalize on improving market conditions. Here are top approaches to take.

Recognize and reward key individuals and teams. When people make things work—especially within an otherwise rigid management structure—bring their success to the attention of the entire organization.

Delegate problem-solving. Encourage autonomous innovation by these key influencers to foster open communication and entrepreneurial spirit. In most organizations, this system replaces top-down mandates.

Follow through. Through the recession, you’ve been implementing programs that work (and dropping those that don’t). Continue the practice into the recovery and beyond.

The take-home message is this: Cycles of growth and recession are inevitable, so your fundamental management strategy should serve your organization equally through either cycle. The key is a culture that keeps efficiency, flexibility and growth in mind at all times.

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