Distributors need an "optimized mix" of the right inventory and proper financial management to stay ahead of supply chain disruptions this year, says Avnet executive Peggy Carrieres. Avnet has focused on design for manufacturability as well, since "flexibility in the front end of the design gives you more choices once the product goes into production based on the availability of product," Carrieres says.

Robotics, automation and artificial intelligence have matured at the right time to become more widely adopted in manufacturing and logistics operations, writes Jen A. Miller. These technologies can free up human workers for other tasks while building supply chain resiliency, Miller writes.

Salespeople have been told that customers can't stand cold calls, emails, social media outreach and other sales techniques, but any approach can work if executed properly, writes David Brock. "Hiding until the customer finds us is not the answer," Brock writes.

Integrating infographics into a content marketing strategy can help a brand increase sharing and exposure, writes Chelsea Alves of Rio SEO. Alves suggests marketers improve success by creating a landing page for each infographic and using an analytics platform to monitor traffic sources.

Company cultures must be, at a minimum, truthful, equitable, diverse and intolerant of toxicity to attract and retain great talent, says S. Chris Edmonds in this blog post and video. "Even a single compromise on fair, respectful, validating treatment erodes sanity, engagement, productivity, profits, service and fun," Edmonds says.

Your team members want to know if they and their work truly matter to you, writes Scott Eblin, who offers five ways to communicate your confidence in them. "The very best leaders are known as stellar talent developers who create the kinds of opportunities that build careers and change lives," Eblin writes.