Matt Doyle

expert panel

It should come as no surprise that a healthy and happy employee is a more productive one. This is why many employers are looking to employee wellness programs to help their team members build healthier habits to improve both their physical and mental health. However, getting employees interested in taking advantage of these benefits means considering their needs and what gets them excited to participate. For a list of perks, policies and initiatives that might spark the interest of your team members, consider the following suggestions from the business leaders of Young Entrepreneur Council. Here, they recommend ideas they themselves have implemented or have seen succeed in the workplace and discuss why they believe employees are so excited to take advantage of these benefits.

expert panel

The business world is very different from what it was even just a decade ago. While many business best practices and principles remain the same, the roadblocks and problems entrepreneurs face are not. With major advancements in technology to a cultural shift toward online shopping, the landscape is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, and many business owners are struggling to adapt. As business leaders themselves, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council have experienced—and are still experiencing—many of these same roadblocks. Here, they outline a number of common issues entrepreneurs are facing today and what they see as good solutions to overcoming them.

expert panel

As a member of the executive team, a COO—or chief operating officer—is a key leadership position responsible for the overall daily operations of a business, ensuring long-term goals are met with everyday tasks and initiatives. Because the COO has a hand in nearly every department of the company, selecting the right one could be the difference between a major business failure and a major success.  How, then, can companies ensure they’re recruiting and hiring the best candidates for such an important role? The members of Young Entrepreneur Council break down the answer below by sharing nine tactical steps business leaders can take to ensure they hire the best COO for their team.

expert panel

Bringing on a business advisor can be a great way to get you or your business out of a rut, both financially and creatively. Not only can they help you rework any failing processes or initiatives, but they can also provide inspiration and insights into what might be the “next big thing” for your growing business. However, like with any new hire you make, you’ll want to be thoughtful about your choice and avoid rushing into a decision based on desperation. To help you find the best fit for you and your business, nine members of Young Entrepreneur Council each discuss one factor entrepreneurs should keep in mind before seeking out a business advisor and why.

article

Choosing the right milestones can increase client satisfaction and reduce stress and strain on your team.

article

Your clients will not always have experience with the stresses involved with seeing a long project through to completion. Part of your job is helping them manage.

expert panel

While there are numerous benefits to remote work—schedule flexibility, lack of commute and a more relaxed workspace, just to name a few—isolation is still one of the downsides to remote work that many employees regularly report. However, these feelings can be mitigated with a few key changes to their routine and the support of their leadership. If you or one of your remote employees starts to feel isolated during the workday, consider the following advice from the members of Young Entrepreneur Council. Here, they discuss solutions that have worked for them and their teams and what they recommend you do to help your own employees feel more connected during the day.

article

Three big mistakes can stop you from being successful when you're working with affluent clients.

expert panel

No one enjoys having difficult conversations—especially with their boss. However, whether it’s about a problem with a co-worker, a mistake that’s been made or a disagreement on a project, difficult conversations are often necessary in the workplace and can help you and anyone else involved move forward and grow as a professional. But, that doesn’t make approaching your boss with a problem any easier. To help you learn how to do it right, eight leaders from Young Entrepreneur Council offer their advice. Here, they share tips from a leadership perspective for how to approach your manager or boss with a difficult conversation in a way that reduces your anxiety and allows you to succeed.

expert panel

A healthy company culture is critical for fostering employee engagement, productivity and overall success. However, creating a positive culture is easier said than done, and even the best efforts can fall short. When an employee comes to you with negative feedback about the company's culture, it's essential to handle the situation with care and sensitivity. To help you do this, 12 members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) share their best approaches for addressing employee feedback by responding to the following question: “When an employee approaches you with negative feedback regarding the company's culture, what's the best approach for handling it? What should be a leader's first step?” Here’s how they recommend you turn this negative situation into an opportunity for growth.

expert panel

expert panel

Whether you're creating a short ad for TikTok or a longer-form video series on YouTube, the quality of your videos can have a major impact on your company’s ability to draw in and retain customers. Poor editing, distorted audio and a bad script can all make it seem like you aren’t willing to put effort into your marketing—which may make customers question the quality of your products or services as well. Thankfully, you don’t have to have a large budget to ensure high production value. Below, nine members of Young Entrepreneur Council each share one simple way any business can improve the quality of their videos and why each tactic works so well.

article

You’ll need to take some responsibility for ensuring your reputation is not just good but also visible. Here are some steps you can take to build and promote your reputation in a local area.

expert panel

The end of any year is often a time of reflection and self-awareness, with many people taking the time to look at both what went well and what went wrong, as well as what they can do to improve over the next 365 days. For leaders, it can be a time to reflect on their own leadership style, their strengths and their weaknesses.  Over the past year, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council have learned a lot about how to be great leaders and what it means to lead others. Below, they share 10 of the lessons they learned and why they think these are important lessons any entrepreneur can glean insights from.

article

Positive reviews are an accomplishment, but they only have power if put to use.

expert panel

As with many aspects of business, implementing a new digital marketing strategy can sometimes feel like a risky endeavor. When you’re new or have limited experience in business ownership, testing out new tactics and investing money in projects and initiatives that may or may not fail can feel like a waste of money and resources. And while there’s no way to ever fully guarantee a strategy will work, there are some steps you can take to help ensure you obtain a return on your investment. Here, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council share their insights on those steps and explain why they find them so beneficial.

expert panel

Every professional needs time off to rest and recharge, but getting back into your work routine after a vacation or extended PTO can be tough—especially if you have lots of messages or tasks to sift through. All too quickly, that relaxed feeling you gained from your time away is replaced with stress and anxiety about all the tasks that urgently need your attention. But your first day back to work doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming. Below, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council share nine tips for getting back into the swing of things after your vacation gradually and coming back to work refreshed and ready to tackle your next challenge.

article

Remote communication with your clients doesn’t need to feel impersonal. With some minor changes to your policies, you can build stronger relationships during the time that you have.

article

These strategies can help you get in front of most of the reasons employees quit.

article

If you want your clients to take the next steps confidently, you need to address the common concerns that are weighing on them—even if they don’t voice them.

article

If you have to change some material in your product, look for an alternative that can help you reinforce your brand.

article

You can generate more sales for big-ticket products and services by using the right approach.

article

Autonomy can be a highly motivating benefit to workers who are already performing excellently in their field.

article

Employees, shareholders and clients alike will want to know what is being done to reduce the chance of emergencies. Your newest safety policy should consider the input of your employees. 

article

Bad reviews can hurt, but every one of them can tell you a little about how to do better.  

article

The lockdowns put in place over the last year have resulted in massive shifts in consumer behavior. Some of these changes are likely to be permanent, and businesses need to be prepared.

article

Use these standards to create a communication plan that will help you make the best impression on your clients. 

article

By implementing these practices, you can make large projects easier for everyone to handle. 

article

Selling products and services is challenging at the best of times, but it’s even harder when there’s an economic recession, pandemic, or any other national or global hardship occurring.

article

You have a huge decision to make when we’re out of quarantine.

article

Even if your operations are shut down for the short term, continue to build relationships with current clients, and seek relationships with new ones.

article

Take the time to note what your employees will need to make the remote work transition.

article

Don't stress your team out with overwhelming goals for the new year.

expert panel

When you own a small business, you have to take on many of the day-to-day responsibilities yourself -- at least in the beginning. Having some basic knowledge across all aspects of business operations can go a long way to making your business flourish, and ultimately turn you into a more well-rounded manager when you do eventually hire staff. But which skills are the most important to develop from the get-go? We asked 11 members of Young Entrepreneur Council which fundamental skill – tech, operations, leadership, etc. – all small business owners should have to manage day-to-day operations. They shared their answers below.

article

Keeping a large project on the rails takes continual effort, but it's worth it in the long run.

article

If you're expecting to spend the next few months dealing with a huge project, there are some habits you can start developing right now.

article

When you’re hiring for positions that require rare or high-level skills, it pays to hone your interview process.

article

Ensure important information can get to you as quickly as possible.

article

Your customer service representatives are the face of your brand that buyers interact with, so they need to be the best.

article

Remote work is a great boot camp for leadership training.

article

A Facebook Page is (still) one of the best free ways to create a search result that customers can easily find.

article

Here's what to ask yourself before committing to customization.

article

A few simple tweaks can significantly cut down on time spent interviewing bad fits.