Goran Paun

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Here's how to grow your audience with effective advertising. In today's tight economy, consumers and business owners alike are taking a closer look at their spending habits and evaluating which purchases make the most sense to invest in right now as they continue to hope for brighter days ahead.  Here, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members each share one idea to help company leaders and their teams create more engaging advertising and think outside the box so that more potential customers will be interested in spending their hard-earned money on their products or services.

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Fast Company Executive Board member Goran Paun and his team at ArtVersion built a website for Legat Architects that reflects the depth and scope of the architecture firm’s work.

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Be willing to keep less timely ideas on your radar for future consideration. As a manager, you're responsible for leading a team that can help the company thrive. That is why it's necessary to foster a work culture where everyone's voice matters and they feel heard. If you are seeking team feedback on innovation and new ideas to move the business forward, it can be hard at times to decide which ideas have potential and which ones deserve your attention and should be tested.  Below, 10 members from Fast Company Executive Board share their best strategy for implementing their team's ideas diplomatically and in a timely manner.

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Here are 10 steps to consider taking before you sign the ownership agreement. Evaluating a potential franchise partnership should never be a cut-and-dry transaction. Instead, leaders must do their due diligence to research the industries they are most passionate about and willing to go the extra mile for day after day when they're in the trenches. Below, 10 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each offer one best practice to help aspiring business owners pick the right franchise before they sign the contract.

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Whether you're building a small, medium, or large business, developing a credible company reputation that potential clients and customers can rely on is what truly matters at the end of the day. If you are just starting in business, it's oftentimes difficult to book and retain your first major client if they're not familiar with your work.  Below, 20 Fast Company Executive Board members weigh in on the best ways to exceed customer expectations and create long-lasting loyalty—giving you the boost in credibility you need to win over potential clients.

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Leading experts share 20 tips to help managers and their employees find a reasonable work-life balance that gets the job done.  Even before the COVID-19 crisis took the world by storm in 2020, managers at most companies were not promoting the idea of a remote or hybrid work culture environment. But when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a shelter-in-place mandate, employers had to quickly adjust their traditional policy.  Realizing the cost-effectiveness on both sides of the aisle, some companies have fully leaned into the idea of enabling employees to WFH and have never looked back while others continue to resist the idea when their staff members question whether they must commute from home just to sit inside a cubicle space. Below, 20 Fast Company Executive Board members weigh in on how employers can work with employees to find common ground and implement the right policies—aside from the current standard hybrid solution.

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It's Women's Entrepreneurship Day! This year, WEDO celebrates 10 years of its mission to empower more women in leadership.  Across a broad range of industries, women in leadership pour mentorship and guidance into developing their direct mentees or encouraging their colleagues to make sound business decisions—positively impacting the recipients' lives and future careers for the better.  However, in the marketplace, it is not uncommon for women (no matter what level they have reached in their field of interest) to experience "imposter syndrome." If left unchecked, this mindset can hinder their potential growth and success in the short and long term. Instead, the key is for them to boldly redefine their narrative and career path before someone else does. Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) was founded by Wendy Diamond in 2013. To mark its 10-year milestone, 20 experts from Fast Company Executive Board share the best advice they've ever received from a successful woman in business.

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10 ways to bridge the communication gap (and restore trust) between department leaders and company heads. It takes a village to raise a company's success level in the marketplace. That is why it is necessary for teams to depend on each other whether the business is up or down, so they can stay in sync and keep the operation running smoothly. Building stronger relationships at work plays a key factor and can boost morale, which in turn, can boost productivity and encourage leadership and teams to collaborate effectively at all times. Below, 10 Fast Company Executive Board members each offer one tip to help department managers and company founders or owners develop and maintain trusting relationships with one another. 

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Having a hard time finding potential new hires? Here are 18 methods for you to try at your next event. In a picky job market, the right career fair at the right time can be a win-win situation for the potential employer and the job seeker alike. It can cost a company a lot of money, however, if they are not focused on the right candidates who can fill their company's needs—right now.  But hiring managers should not solely rely on resume history—or if a candidate meets all 10 "job requirements"—as it's also crucial for the recruiter to find the right cultural fit and a team player who can help a department and company thrive in the long term. If you are scheduled to attend a career fair or networking event in the coming weeks or months, below, Fast Company Executive Board members each share one tip for leaders who want to attract the right new hires to work with.

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Today's users are on the lookout for brands that radiate transparency, uphold integrity, and remain true to their core values.

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Here's how thought leaders are setting and achieving their short- and long-term goals—creatively. You can do it too. Whether you are planning your business career and the goals that you intend to accomplish or are thinking about certain expectations you have set for yourself in terms of personal aspirations outside of the 9-to-5 hustle and bustle, it's important to develop a plan and put it into action. You should also consider the process of writing it down on paper to keep it on your radar on a daily basis.  A vision board is a creative way to keep yourself inspired and flesh out your ideas and potential pathways to realizing your goals. To spark your ability to remain laser-focused and not give up on your path to success, experts from Fast Company Executive Board share how making a vision board inspires their determination and encourages them not to give up on themselves or their dreams. 

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11 essentials to consider before you announce your latest improvements. It's always an exciting time when a company is able to roll out new design enhancements for a mobile app, especially one that will include features perceived to be game-changing by industry standards. However, while it is necessary to stay tuned into the latest trends and be willing to accommodate your users' requests and needs, it's also important to know your limitations and consider your organization's strategy and vision. You also need to ensure that you don't overwhelm your customers by overloading them with too many features in one app all at once.  If your end goal is to provide a better service for current and potential clients and customers, here, 11 Fast Company Executive Board members share some key factors to keep in mind before you invest your time and money in the latest design process.

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11 tips that will elevate your brand at the next event. How can company representatives leave a desirable impression when attending the annual conference circuit, whether on-site or virtually? Designing merchandise giveaways that speak directly to the brand's mission and core values is one way to attract the attention of conventiongoers, but it can't be run-of-the-mill items that will end up in the trash (or disregarded online) at the end of the day. That would be a poor return on investment.  Instead, lean toward sustainable products that have the biggest potential to come in handy for attendees—same time next year. Below, 11 Fast Company Executive Board members share best practices for how to use merchandise opportunities to build brand awareness and why it works for them.

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10 reasons to consider this sales and marketing tactic—especially if you are in the early stages of your organization. If you are trying to raise brand awareness by educating consumers and potential customers about the types of products and services you are offering, then it might not be a bad idea to launch a pop-up shop or kiosk location to attract more interest and reach people where they're at. When you are just starting out in business, this type of solution is convenient and affordable because there is no long-term lease commitment. It also enables companies to create a sense of urgency because its location lacks permanency. Experts from Fast Company Executive Board know all about this alternative way of doing business. Here, they discuss how this method of selling can be successful and increase the bottom line of your digital or brick-and-mortar establishment.

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The mission has always been clear-cut yet ambitious at ArtVersion: enhance usability and accessibility for all users across all digital design projects.

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Applying the "show, don't tell" method in today's digital world can work wonders if you want to build your sales pipeline. When your sales and marketing team members are gearing up to promote your organization at a yearly in-person or hybrid-remote industry convention—in the new normal, it's always important to figure out the best strategy to effectively rise above the competitive noise and capture the attention of your target audience. So, how can company leaders elevate learning opportunities for current and potential customers to gather and retain information about their business products and services in the most efficient way? Below, 12 Fast Company Executive Board members share tips to keep consumers engaged and interested in what your brand has to offer, showing them why they should stick around to hear more and possibly give it a chance rather than moving on to another vendor.

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Technology is changing the game for companies and job candidates in the workplace. The talent acquisition process looks a lot different today than it did way back when. Gone are the days when candidates could simply head out for the day to pound the pavement, sit inside the human resources lobby of their desired employer to fill out a long-form application, and hope to get an interview callback in a few days.  In today's digital world, how has technology helped your company streamline its hiring process for managers and potential new hires alike? Here, eight Fast Company Executive Board members weigh in on the features of virtual recruitment they've come to rely on in efforts to build dynamic teams and enhance future company success.

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Apply these best practices to strengthen your relationship as a mentor and partner.  If you're a leader seeking a great personal assistant who can help you elevate your business to the next level, it's essential that you take your time until you find the proper fit. Once you've succeeded at the first step, it's time to nurture the relationship by learning what drives them and what they are most passionate about—treating them like a partner in collaboration on your journey and engaging them in meaningful assignments. While retaining top talent is not an easy feat, here, 15 Fast Company Executive Board members share their best tips for training a high-level assistant that you can count on to work with you closely for the long term.

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A well-defined design language sets the standard for consistent and effective visual communication, reinforcing your brand identity and fostering a memorable user experience.

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Consider these 13 design steps recommended by leading industry experts. When you're in the process of developing (or revamping) a company website, you can't be afraid to take risks, break the norm, and add a little more personalization to your brand image—especially if it means reaching out to an untapped market for conversion. But once you've suddenly captured the attention of potential customers and clients, how do you build on that momentum and keep it going? The next step is to offer them substantial information that is engaging and interesting to drive home a clear message of intent. Below, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members each provide one tip for designing a website that will get noticed in today's competitive marketplace.

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Inspire yourself to get stuff done in a new and improved remote work environment. Just because remote work affords you the freedom to maintain your business and family responsibilities alongside each other from the convenience of your home, doesn't mean it's okay to lose sight of maintaining an organized, professional, and productive workspace—when you are on the clock. Doing so allows you to concentrate wholeheartedly and remain stimulated by the daily projects and long-term projects on your plate.  If you are feeling siloed or unmotivated with low energy in your current WFH space, below, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members share their innovative ideas to help remote business professionals create comfortable, focus-driven workspaces that keep them inspired and motivated to produce great work each day. Applying these tips will also enhance work-life balance and protect physical and mental health.

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Leaders discuss the rise and impact of online businesses. For small-business owners, e-commerce is a game changer—connecting startups with 24/7 access to ideal target markets at a rapid pace. If you want to be a standout, it's essential to differentiate your brand of products or services by offering a unique value proposition and a seamless online shopping experience to encourage return customers.  Knowing that a potential customer is just one click away, business leaders and their teams must also do a deeper dive to determine the underlined meaning of customer behavior patterns and tailor, as needed, to the individual e-commerce experience. Below, nine Fast Company Executive Board members explain how the pros of e-commerce (mainly) outweigh the cons and help businesses meet their bottom-line goals.  

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Start with a few target items that align with the big picture. There are so many factors that go into building and maintaining a scalable business that has the potential to thrive—year after year. As a leader's to-do list continues to grow, where do you start when it comes to making important decisions that will impact the future of the business? Below,  10 experts from Fast Company Executive Board discuss how others can effectively balance the short- and long-term goals in their business decision-making process.

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14 tips for business leaders aiming to reframe a culture of adaptability at the office. For a company to remain competitive and survive in today's marketplace, its leaders must be willing to fully embrace what it means to build a culture of adaptability among a diverse workforce and live up to its own expectations. Improving the company's culture won't happen overnight, but if leaders begin to gather and share employee success stories and transformative behavior patterns, doing so will plant the seed of change for the better. In turn, top talent will be more likely to take a second look at potential career opportunities at the prospective company. Here are 14 suggestions from Fast Company Executive Board members that can lead to a better work environment and a desire to change. 

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Here are 11 areas to consider if you want to keep your business up to code. It's essential to remain compliant with marketplace regulations if you plan to stay in business. By doing so, your clients and partners will appreciate your credibility as a trustworthy brand. It also puts you in a better position when times are tough and when they are forced to make hard and fast investment decisions in a budget crunch.   Whether you are trying to comprehend individual state tax laws or trying to navigate how to handle data privacy restrictions that may impact your company and its stakeholders, it's necessary to cover all of your bases so you don't wind up in any legal trouble. Below, leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board discuss the market regulations that have been especially challenging for their organizations and how they were able to overcome the obstacles. In hindsight, abiding by these business requirements has helped some companies thrive even more. 

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Implement these strategies for start-up success. It's tough out there when you are trying to build brand recognition and rise above the noise. When you are just starting out in the marketplace as a business owner, how do you attract loyal clients and partnership deals? Below, 14 Fast Company Executive Board members discuss the most important factors in developing the brand identity that you want to be known for. Once your leadership team establishes that, it's essential that you continue to stand on the reputation that you want to build.

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Hope for the best. Plan for disruption. Life is full of uncertainties, and that includes an unpredictable business environment. What can leaders do to secure their company's future and team stability during tough economic times? One solution is to prepare and plan ahead—based on the market trends—so your company and stakeholders will be ready and skilled to face the challenges that may come your way. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members share their go-to methods that leaders can implement to effectively manage the risk and uncertainty in their day-to-day business operations. 

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Giving every staff member a seat at the table can increase business morale and business growth. It takes a village to build the type of team morale and trust it takes to lead a company to innovative success and long-term profitability. So if you are trying to strengthen staff relations and foster a better work environment that enables every employee to have a voice, don't go it alone, be willing to have an open mind and lean on them for support.  By encouraging regular brainstorming sessions with your team to guide your decision-making process, you'll be a better informed, confident leader, knowing that your staff is working together (and truly has your back) to elevate the company further in the years to come. Below, Fast Company Executive Board members share other reasons why employee feedback and collaboration are fundamental in helping leaders make better all-around business decisions.

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One might be tempted to think that keyword optimization has lost its relevance with the advent of new technologies and search algorithms. However, keyword optimization remains a crucial aspect of SEO.

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Implement these tips to attract new clients and customers to your business.  In a competitive, fast-paced, uncertain economy with evolving digital marketing strategies, sometimes it takes time to accurately gauge the pulse of your industry network and social subscribers. If your content isn't refreshing and well-researched, then you could potentially lose readers or viewers who are looking for content leaders who can solve their problems and answer their most challenging questions on a regular basis in a more efficient manner.  To help other business leaders and teams promote brand awareness through content successfully, Fast Company Executive Board members sound off on 19 highly recommended best practices.

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Business leaders weigh in on their favorite technology solutions. When you’ve got numerous work deadlines to meet over a short period of time, it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks unintentionally, especially if you are feeling overwhelmed and losing the energy required to keep track of everything and maintain an efficient daily workflow. That’s where the latest boom of innovative technology solutions begins to kick in. But with so many gadgets and software solutions on the market to choose from, the biggest question is: Where to start? Below, experts from Fast Company Executive Board are here to shed some light on their favorite digital applications (to date) and why they are essential to the successful operation of any business—no matter what size or type of company you are responsible for running. 

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Business leaders weigh in on 15 steps to take before introducing your brand to new and growing markets. As the new economy and digital marketplace continue to evolve, some business leaders may feel like they are under pressure to upgrade their brand's image in an effort to remain relevant to the next generation of potential clients and customers. However, oftentimes, you may need to simply assess which areas of your business need some minor adjustments rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. So before you consider the redesign process, members from Fast Company Executive Board are here to discuss some steps that they recommend when contemplating a rebranding idea for your company's logo and image. 

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AI has a lot to offer, and displaying those intricacies on your website can elevate it even further. To do so, a great starting point is applying UI/UX best practices.

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Business experts share their methods to grow your clientele through a more creative, strategic smartphone engagement. As the human attention span continues to decline, business owners need to rethink their creative advertising tactics to attract and retain potential customers who are always on the go.  Leaders should also keep in mind that today's consumers are using their mobile devices differently than they do desktops. Therefore, it's important to A/B test how your ad will look on a smartphone to confirm that the user journey is seamless and easy to follow. Below are eight Fast Company Executive Board members to help advertising department teams create promotional pieces that will pique the interest of their target audience.

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Here's how business leaders are getting customers to participate and connect on a regular basis. Launching a viable company is not only about developing a quality brand of products and services, it's also about building long-lasting relationships with loyal clientele. But how can a business owner gain initial attraction from potential customers and partners in the marketplace that will enable their early establishment to grow?   Whether it's an online chance to stack up on reward incentives, or an in-person special event featuring a CEO AMA, the customers are sure to appreciate every opportunity to rub shoulders with the company's representatives, share their feedback on an added value item, and much more. To offer leaders and their teams some additional ways to keep the conversations going, below are 14 Fast company Executive Board members to share tips on what's been working for them.

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Branding is also the result of the emotions that arise from UI/UX web design and graphical design, and if effective, they will propel brand engagement, prominence, and conversion.

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Brands that want to capitalize on the popularity of podcasts need a solid strategy for reaching and growing an audience. Whether they're business-focused, educational or just for entertainment, podcasts have become one of the most popular content mediums in recent years. Businesses can leverage the podcast format to connect with their customers in new and exciting ways -- but it has to be done well. There are already many popular podcasts out there, so your brand must be able to differentiate itself from the rest. Below, 14 Fast Company Executive Board leaders shared their best tips for launching a successful podcast to increase your brand exposure.

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Build a better service unit to improve your customer journey and satisfaction rates. To improve the quality of a company's call center, it's important to consider the B2B or B2C audience that the staff is serving. Investing in the latest software tools and offering ongoing training will reiterate core values and elevate the employees' abilities to handle unique challenges and experience ecosystems. Below, a panel of seven experts from Fast Company Executive Board share their top tips to boost success rates and customer satisfaction through the business call center.

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Here's how a CGI-AI-powered assistant can free up staff time and enable a smoother client journey. Chatbot systems have come a long way, thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning improvements. With a user-friendly automated service installed on its website, any business can address its customers' immediate concerns or frequently asked questions with little to no wait. This helps teams increase customer satisfaction at a higher rate.  Below are 10 Fast Company Executive Board members to share how installing a chatbot software application to their company's website has improved their business-client relationships in real-time.

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Here's how to build brand ambassadors, no matter what you're selling. Getting your clients to stay on board while trying to attract a few more good ones, is never an easy task—whether you're trying to push an item that is older, dull, and irrelevant in the changing marketplace or promoting something you just launched. However, before you entertain the thought of removing a low-performing product or service from your company's portfolio altogether, experts from Fast Company Executive Board are here to advise leaders on their best strategies to put a fresh spin on your offerings that are sure to re-engage and excite a growing customer base. This promotes brand loyalty centered on your company's  mission statement and purpose.

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Developing a growth strategy is important, but it takes the right resources and circumstances to make it work right away. If a business wants to grow, it must consistently change and adapt to meet the expectations of the market. Many growth strategies revolve around enhancing your customer's experience, whether that be through increased communication services like live chats or getting involved with non-profits they might align with. Whatever the method, having a solid growth strategy in place, and the resources to execute it, is key for any company. To that end, 14 Fast Company Executive Board members share growth strategies that work immediately and how to implement them. 

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Much like context can strengthen a story, context can strengthen and uplift a design for optimized experiences in a relentlessly expanding digital world.

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When you're a small business owner tasked with juggling multiple areas of the company, it can seem intimidating at times because you want your business to be a success in the industry. You can reach short- and long-term goals by focusing on your own personal strengths. It's best to strategically delegate tasks to key team members because this will allow them to develop and grow professionally. To avoid burnout across the organization, it's also essential to keep your staff's bandwidth in mind from the very beginning. Don't be afraid to outsource other duties as needed. By doing so, your entire staff can focus on what truly matters in efforts to move the business forward one step at a time. New to entrepreneurship and feeling overwhelmed about the business challenges that lie ahead in an uncertain market? Here are 12 experts from Fast Company Executive Board to share their best-kept practices for overcoming the obstacles of running a start-up.

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Here's how to stand out in a noisy marketplace. Running an effective advertising campaign is more than saying the right words to get people to buy into your products, services, and what your brand is all about. If you want to make the most of your marketing investment, then focus on the pulse of consumer behavior patterns and where they need the most attention. In addition, connecting emotionally and socially with your target audience members will keep them coming back to your brand everytime if you continue to share a purpose that they can relate to wholeheartedly. Below, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members share some best practices of how you can implement more creativity in your promotions and bring targeted audience members together who will support you every time.

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Here are 11 factors to consider before you open a second or third location. If revenue streams are increasing at your flagship location, then your business may be ripe for an expansion. But just because business is booming doesn't mean you should make assumptions about your potential to succeed in a new market (locally or globally).  Taking on additional overhead should be a strategic decision that is driven by potential new revenue, a decrease in expenses, or provides a competitive advantage to make the company a standout. Below are essential questions that Fast Company Executive Board members urge you to ask yourself before you move forward with the right plans to grow the business.

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Taking a creative approach to maintaining personable business relationships is just as important. If you want to instill an inviting corporate culture for everyone at your company, then it's necessary to not only model the ideal behavior but to get employees involved so they have a higher stake in the changes they want to see taking place. Enabling your staff members to help make real business decisions that impact the company's bottom line and the way people view themselves as individual and collaborative contributors will elevate morale and set a positive example for future employees to come. Below, experts from Fast Company Executive Board share 16 practical ideas that continue to foster inclusiveness and team building at work. 

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Being able to stay consistent with your strategic approach to meeting goals is key when it comes to navigating data variables. Technology is a useful tool to help businesses remain relevant in the marketplace and understand the data behind their consumers' behavior patterns. However, it's crucial to merge human intelligence with the machine learning elements, so you can ask the right questions and keep up with market trends alike. Below are 12 suggestions Fast Company Executive Board members offer to get you up to speed with data-driven market segmentation and how it can help you meet your business and customer needs.

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User-centric design and the incorporation of iterative is an essential approach that elevates humanized experiences. The merging of these two practices can enhance the development of experience for UI/UX teams, with users crystalized at the core.

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15 leaders weigh in on meeting consumers where they live. Despite the thriving and evolving digital economy, leaders still need to strike a healthy balance between their company's online and offline presence if they want their business to remain relevant to current and prospective customers. To enhance your daily presence in their personal or professional lives, it's also essential to listen so you'll understand their needs because that will help you come up with some of the best solutions that are well timed and informative. Below are 15 additional tips, from members of Fast Company Executive Board to equip you with the essential tools to stay authentic and active in your targeted communities.

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Here's how to finesse supply chain demands in a low market. If you're going to beat supply chain demand when the economy is tough, it's important to remain proactive in business so you can continue to gauge the clients' interest during the unforeseeable future. As you build your cash flow and supply chain network, to steadily upgrade your products and services during the good times, you'll be able to strengthen the confidence and commitment of your most loyal customers even when times are bad.  Below are 10 steps Fast Company Executive Board members have taken to deal with the current inflation and supply chain crisis.

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How to keep your company's original mission relative to the future growth market.  To avoid remaining stagnant in today's evolving marketplace, an entrepreneur must keep one eye on the pulse of the latest trends and the other on the reasons for going into business in the first place. To stay balanced, the leader should make pursuing innovation a natural part of the company's course in order to survive. Below, 15 members from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on the path to blending legacy with future possibilities to help their companies thrive.

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Every single person on your team—in the early days—needs to have an entrepreneurial spirit. If you want to launch a growing business and be successful, it's important to create a strong mission statement and surround yourself with folks who are willing to put in the work because they're passionate about what they do. Business leaders should also look for people who can carry out core values and continue to foster a positive company culture that lives up to the brand that the founder envisions.  It may be difficult to obtain the best talent in the market, so start with the peers in your network who respect what you're already doing and are happy to support what you stand for. Below, 11 expert panelists from Fast Company Executive Board suggest other leading traits business owners and managers should think about when they are trying to match a job candidate within their company. 

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10 ways to maintain relevance in an ever-changing digital work environment. In an evolving virtual world, it's important for companies to stay informed about the newly developed system solutions and devices that are there to make the daily operations of a small, medium, or large enterprise run a little smoother. Whether you are a COO executive whose days are filled with back to back meetings, or a middle manager with a team of direct reports and other follow-up responsibilites that take up a good portion of your day, it's not an easy task to squeeze in additional hours to take a deeper dive into why your individual department or entire company should strongly consider investing in the latest platform, software or gadgets on the market.  That's why Fast Company Executive Board members wanted to share their 10 ideas for educating leaders and staff about the current digital technology updates. 

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Your UX team should help your organization develop new ideas with experiential designs that demonstrate its focus on innovation and reinvention for users’ delight.

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11 ideas to regain confidence and complete a pending project. If you're feeling overwhelmed at work these days because you're short on time and staff, or just plain busy and uninspired this winter season, don't fret. Instead, you should stop what you're doing to focus on something more manageable—temporarily, and perhaps engage in meditation. By doing so, you'll be able to quickly recharge your energy and find more clarity to take on that larger project. To help business leaders get the ball rolling, 11 Fast Company Executive Board members share their personal experiences about dealing with tough assignments and the best way to get them completed move on to the next thing.