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Minor workplace disagreements left unchecked have the potential to quickly become completely unmanageable. Workplace conflicts are an inevitable part of working with people. As such, leaders need to have a proactive plan in place for handling these conflicts when they arise between employees. Disagreements left unchecked increase the chances of a conflict escalating, negatively impacting the culture of the company and creating a toxic environment as a result. To help leaders deal with workplace disagreements before they spiral out of control, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum share how to effectively de-escalate and mediate workplace conflicts when they arise.

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Keeping employees consistent connected to the mission and values of the organization means building a supportive work environment. The key to creating a supportive work environment lies in how well the leaders of the organization communicate with their employees. Clear and consistent communication is essential to ensuring employees feel a sense of belonging and are fully connected to the mission of the organization, but communication can no longer be one-sided and reserved for those at the top. Changing how they communicate to better accommodate employees and their needs will allow leaders to build and maintain long-term relationships with the people in their organizations. To help, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum share communications strategies leaders should consider adopting if they want to resonate more with employees and build influence.

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Investing more time into nonbusiness critical endeavors can positively impact an entrepreneur's skills and business. Pursuing professional development has always been a valuable practice for continuously growing and developing business skills. Despite the benefits, however, some entrepreneurs are still reluctant to take steps toward investing in their own development. For them, any time and effort not spent on business-critical tasks may be seen as unimportant when compared to work that directly impacts and drives business.  However, entrepreneurs need to rethink their current beliefs about professional development if they are truly interested in growing their businesses and enhancing their own skills for future success. To help, 15 members of Newsweek Expert Forum shared recommendations on how entrepreneurs can take action and start investing in their own professional development.

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A business's culture directly influences relationships within the workplace. The work culture of a business has a direct impact on the ability of the organization to last long term. Besides the benefits on the business side, a positive work environment enhances the relationship between leaders and current and prospective employees, leading to increased retention and employee loyalty. However, the challenge comes with building and preserving this kind of company culture. To help, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members shared their recommendations for how business leaders can build and maintain a positive work culture.

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Diversity, equity and inclusion are not one-and-done initiatives—they require long-term, ongoing efforts to be successful. Over the course of the last year, companies have started to focus on diversifying teams more than ever before. Social justice movements like Black Lives Matter have pushed leaders to make public commitments toward diversity efforts. Now, leaders should start to assess whether their strategies for implementing diversity were successful. To ensure leaders maintain their commitments, 11 Newsweek Expert Forum members shared their advice. Here's how they recommend evaluating and maintaining your company's promise to prioritize diversity.

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Actively meeting the needs of employees can inspire respect for leaders while also having a direct impact on the business's bottom line. Being a great leader requires more than delegating tasks to employees and meeting business goals. Each individual employee within an organization has different needs, and the role leadership plays in meeting those needs and empowering employees to contribute their expertise can have a direct impact on a business’s bottom line.  Though all leaders aspire to be someone worthy of guiding others, the challenge is ensuring each action taken signifies interest in and commitment to the well-being of employees. To help, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum offer recommendations for how those in power can earn the loyalty of those around them and become leaders people will want to follow.

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Relying more on the help of others can reduce the strain entrepreneurship places on leaders. Business leaders carry the weight of their organizations on their shoulders. In addition to ensuring ideas come to fruition and customers are satisfied, executives also have the added pressure of ensuring employee needs are being met. These priorities can place a considerable strain on a leader even in times when a business is fairing well. Rather than accepting that burnout may be an ever-present downside to entrepreneurship, leaders can begin shifting the operations of their businesses to move out of that mindset. Relying more on the people who help run the business can help, but executives have to be ready to make active changes in their lives. Below, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum offer expert advice on how executives can begin moving in the right direction again after feeling burned out.

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Leaders that are unable to keep up in a changing business world are at risk of falling behind. The business world moves fast, and companies that aren’t able to keep up run the risk of falling behind. Building a sustainably successful company requires that leaders understand just how much the business can and will change over time. While leaders are well aware that flexibility is a key part of doing business, it doesn't mean that they will be able to tap into that ability the moment they encounter a business challenge. To help, a panel of Newsweek Expert Forum members share strategies leaders can use to develop their ability to adapt quickly and ensure that flexibility is built into the foundation of their organizational culture.

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Being prepared and conducting proper planning shows that you value people’s time.

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To survive in business long term, leaders must be able to respond and adapt to sudden changes. Nothing is ever certain in business. The products and services provided by companies solve real, current problems, but the mission that fuels a business is bound to change as time goes on. Leaders must be able to pivot and adapt their organizations in a changing environment. Despite the challenges presented by a fluctuating market or evolving times, it’s still possible to effectively make and achieve goals that help secure a business’s future. Below, members of Newsweek Expert Forum share their expert advice on the best strategy leaders can use to create a vision for the future of their organization among uncertainty.

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With technology continuing to change how people live and work, organizations need to prioritize opportunities that better meet evolving customer needs. The business landscape has changed drastically over the past year. While companies have come to expect that people’s needs will shift constantly based on changing life situations, the customers of 2021 are remarkably different from their predecessors. Increased online shopping options and new methods for connecting virtually are just a few examples of how technology has altered the ways in which customers live and work. Though many businesses have been able to adapt quickly to meet the needs of modern consumers, the convenience and access that technology brings will be vital from now on. Leaders will need to keep a close eye on customer behavior trends to ensure they are on top of the factors impacting the industry. Below, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum share the customer behavior trends that are likely to impact businesses from now on.

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When even small decisions can have a big impact on your business, removing bias is a critical step in the decision-making process. To be an entrepreneur is to expect change. The business world is rarely static, and leaders who are able to meet obstacles head-on and create solutions are better able to survive long term. This is why decision making plays such an important role in a successful business.  When time is limited and decisions have to be made, an objective approach can help ensure the best conclusion is reached. However, considering how big of a role people play in business and how often emotions can take over, remaining objective can be a challenge. Here, the members of Newsweek Expert Forum share strategies for letting go of assumptions and approaching the decision-making process with an unbiased view.