YEC Members Offer Tips on Business Structure & Smart Management

YEC members are experts in many fields. From technology to food innovation, they’ve started successful and forward-thinking companies across a variety of industries and gained first-hand knowledge of the challenges of starting and sustaining a business. This week, our members offer insight on how to structure a successful business (and skillfully manage it).

Two Creative Advantages Small Companies Have Over Big Ones

Creativity is essential in business. At least that's what Nextiva's VP of Marketing Yaniv Masjedi believes. In his latest Fast Company article, the YEC member discusses how his company became the fastest growing telecom company in an industry dominated by larger competitors. His advice to other small companies? Focus on creative thinking. "Hold meetings in which members from a variety of departments are in attendance, and assign each person the task of coming up with three ideas for a team other than their own."

14 Entrepreneurs Weigh In On Whether It's Best to Have One, Two or More Founders

What's the best thing for your startup? Having one, two or more founders? We recently asked members of YEC to weigh in. "The number of founders should really depend on what your startup’s needs are. If your reasons for having two or more founders is that you each bring unique and independent skills, then multiple founders are a benefit," says member Mark Daoust. Read the remaining advice in this Noobpreneur article.

YEC contributors: Andrew Thomas, SkyBell; Dave Nevogt, Hubstaff.com; Angela Ruth, Due; Cody McLain, SupportNinja; Zac Johnson, How to Start a Blog; Charles Moscoe, Skin Care Media; Elle Kaplan, LexION Capital; Matt Doyle, Excel Builders; Mark Daoust, Quiet Light Brokerage, Inc.; Mattan Griffel, One Month; Aron Susman, TheSquareFoot; Marcela De Vivo, Brilliance; Andre Chandra, Propelo Media; Eric Mathews, Start Co.

Lead Better: 5 Rules to Loosen Your Grip on Your Business

In his latest Forbes piece, Dan Pickett, co-founder of Launch Academy, shares how advice on thehttp://www.noobpreneur.com/2016/05/30/14-entrepreneurs-weigh-in-on-whether-its-best-to-have-one-two-or-more-founders/ golf course led to a change in company management: "He instructed me to loosen my grip and not tense up in that critical moment — leading to a better and more consistent shot." In business: "Take the time to explain why something must be fixed and empower someone else to fix it. You shouldn’t do it yourself because you’ve hired talented people to solve these challenges specifically so you can focus on other things."

Moving From Micromanagement to Macromanagement: 3 Tips For Manager

Red Branch Media's Maren Hogan recently wrote a Huffington Post piece about how her company implemented “macromanagement" and how other businesses can adopt macromanagement practices to increase employee satisfaction and productivity. She writes, "Ending micromanagement takes practice, time and planning. Building a strong culture, becoming more self-aware, and providing formalized employee training and development opportunities are all great ways to help."

12 Management Characteristics Every Manager Should Adopt

Part of being an effective manager means understanding how to read people and making sure they are working to their strengths. But there is so much more. That's why we asked our members to share their best managerial tips in this Small Biz Trends piece.

YEC contributors: Finn Kelly, WE LOVE NUMBERS; Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, AirPR; Ophir Tanz, GumGum; Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now; Aaron Schwartz, ModifyWatches.com; Jared Brown, Hubstaff; Peter Boyd, PaperStreet Web Design; Jennifer Mellon, Trustify; Andy Karuza, FenSens; Aron Susman, TheSquareFoot; Elle Kaplan, LexION Capital; Blair Thomas, First American Merchant.