The modern work environment looks vastly different than it did 10 years ago. In fact, it even differs significantly from what it looked like even 3 or 4 years ago. 2020 brought with it a swooping series of changes that will have long-term impact on many facets of society. A lot of this is due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Many organizations were forced to make the transition to fully or at least partially remote operations in the wake of the pandemic. However, the transition to a mostly remote workforce actually benefited both employees and employers. 

Employees reported achieving better work-life balances, and higher levels of job satisfaction in remote environments as well. Not only that, but in some areas, productivity actually rose because employees weren’t wasting time, energy, and money on commuting to work in the midst of rush hour. 

However, the new remote-work-world has brought with it its own series of challenges, like keeping employees organized across their digital platforms. 

“Different organizations will have different needs regarding these business tools, so it’s essential for business leaders to make sure that employees are able to effectively and efficiently utilize these technologies.”

– Intellezy –

What to Look for in an Organization App

When it comes to shopping the market for business organization applications and tools, it serves to use the same logic you would with shopping for anything else. Be critical, do your research, understand your needs, and compare the available products. 

Some of the most common features that an organization app should offer are task prioritization, scheduling, task templates, automation, multiple-views, and third-party integrations. Other considerations to factor into account are price, and ease of use, as well. 

“I didn’t really know what I needed from my organizational application until I started using one. Suddenly there were things I wanted to do that I couldn’t and things I could do that I had no use for. That helped us find the right one, though. And once we did, it fit like a glove.” 

– Fred Gerantabee, Chief Experience Officer, Readers.com –

Connecteam

Connecteam is one of the most popular all-in-one organizational business applications on the market. It has a robust suite of features that allow your team to get and stay organized quickly. Connecteam has native timesheets, super quick task-management features, and communication based checklists. 

There are plenty of automated and recurring task settings also that give employees a clear view of their tasks and their deadlines. Of course, this wouldn’t be completed without follow-up and reminder notifications to keep employees focused on the jobs that need to be done. 

Connecteam also lets users assign tasks based on teams, location, or any other number of variables. Within these assignments, sub-tasks, descriptions, files, and media can all be created and attached to further facilitate a smooth and timely project.

“We started using Connecteam for the simple and easy scheduling features, but then it swiftly overwhelmed us with how much it can manage. Now we use it for just about everything.”

– Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder & CEO, OSDB –

Any.Do

Any.Do is another task-manager organization application. However, this application is a bit more lightweight than the all-in-one Connecteam discussed above. Any.Do focuses more specifically on creating and assigning to-do-lists and other types of lists. 

These checklists can be assigned to different users, groups, or teams, and automatic reminders and notifications can also be scheduled through the platform. A fun little note is that Any.Do can also be helpful in your personal life as it offers a grocery list feature capable of importing and storing recipes. 

“We like the simplicity of Any.Do. We don’t really assign any heavy-lifting to the application, per se, but it certainly helps us keep our weeks organized and makes sure that we’re all on the same page when it comes to project status.”

– Dr. Michael Green, Chief Medical Officer, Winona –

Monday

Monday is one of the softwares on the list that is a more traditional project management type organizational application. This means it excels when it comes to creating and tracking schedules, planning projects, time tracking, and task management. The versatility makes Monday an excellent option for organizations and project leaders who are looking for some granular control over the project flow. 

“Project scheduling and tracking is something we rarely get right on the first try. It’s not because our data is bad or anything like that, we just can’t account for every variable out there. Having automated schedules to reference though, helps us be flexible and make adjustments on the fly when issues arise.”

– Chris Bridges, CEO, VITAL –

Akiflow

Akiflow is super helpful when it comes to calendar-management specifically. If you’re a calendar-junkie who likes to plan their day down to the 10-minute interval, Akiflow may be the product you’ve been looking for. Chronic-schedulers often find themselves using more than one calendar to track their busy days and hectic weeks. Akiflow, though, can import all of the information from these calendars into one seamless scheduler. 

The daily notifications are great to help you keep your week on track while the desktop-only-application also offers users a wide library of short-cuts for easy management. 

There are even quick-task creation tools with varying priority levels that make it easy to create last minute additions to your day. 

“Having all of my calendars consolidated into one is like a breath of fresh air every day I look at it. It just brings me peace seeing everything sorted and organized in one central spot.”

– Max Schwartzapfel, CMO, Fighting For You –

Todoist

Todoist is another more comprehensive project management tool. Todoist allows users to track and manage projects, set alarms, and track due dates. Additionally, there are user and manager profiles that can be set up in Todoist. 

This makes it easy for managers to assign team members tasks and subtasks while simultaneously tracking a project status. Meanwhile non-managerial users can make use of Todoist to keep track of their individual tasks, while also collaborating seamlessly with the rest of the team. 

“We all strive to attain the highest level of productivity, and it’s only a matter of exploring how to use modern tools and technology to our advantage.”

– Tanvir Zafar, Founder, ISU Technologies – 

Introduction

Looking into new ways to implement employee recognition in the workplace can help boost workplace morale and increase employee engagement by using recognition strategies that are a bit more out-of-the-box.

Sure, you can put their picture on the wall or send out an email saying they’re the “employee of the month”, but is that really something that motivates your staff to push themselves and do the best that they can? 

Check out this list of ideas put together by some of our favorite business leaders. They have shared some concepts that can be executed in a variety of workplace environments and we hope they’ll work for you as well.

Use Behavioral Science – Pyramid of Needs

We’ve all heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In this recognition strategy, you would be utilizing some of the pyramid’s ideas to promote employee recognition by meeting needs that they may have. Studies have shown that people are happiest in work environments that are meeting all of their needs, so why not implement this in your employee recognition strategies?

“This strategy is something that can be used incrementally on an individual basis,” says Christy Pyrz, Chief Marketing Officer of Paradigm Peptides. “The pyramid of needs goes from basic needs all the way to self-actualization. You will need to determine where on the spectrum your staff falls. This might mean that recognition for one staff member might include allowing them to work a flexible schedule as a reward for their reliability so they can make it to their kids’ soccer games on Thursday nights or it could be a collection of notes of encouragement and appreciation from coworkers to fulfill their need for belonging or elevate their esteem.”

“Using behavioral science and Maslow’s pyramid to determine rewards and recognition ideas can be a very fulfilling way to give recognition,” says Mark Sider, CEO and Co-Founder of Greater Than. “This method not only allows for the staff to feel appreciated and valued, but in the long run it will increase the likelihood that you have a reliable staff that wants to stick around because their needs are being met completely.” 

Encourage Peer-to-Peer Recognition

Leading by example and encouraging your staff to encourage each other through your appreciation of their efforts is a great way to help people feel seen and appreciated while also building relationships within your teams. You can start this by doing it yourself with people higher up in the organization and then encouraging them to keep passing it on.

“Peer-to-peer recognition can be just as powerful, if not more, than recognition from the top,” says Adam Bém, Co-Founder and COO of Victoria VR. “Think about it: wouldn’t you value the opinion of your close coworker who sees what you’re doing and the effort you’re putting into things more than the CEO who you see once per month at staff meetings? That’s not to say that leaders shouldn’t praise or recognize staff, but it’s important to see the value of recognizing peers and creating a workplace culture that facilitates this type of recognition.”

“Show your staff how to appreciate and recognize each other by giving them the opportunity to nominate each other for awards or recognition or by providing each person with the resources to provide encouragement to their peers,” says Anthony Puopolo, CMO of REX MD. “Even providing each staff member with a stack of blank cards to write in to encourage and recognize the efforts of their peers can start to create a domino effect of positivity and recognition among your employees that will contribute to a much more positive work environment.”

Brag About Your Team on Social Media

This one is targeted at your Gen Z and Millennial employees, but most Boomers are also on social media at this point too – even if it is just to keep in touch with their kids. Share the great work your staff is doing on a social platform where they can be acknowledged professionally for their efforts on a public platform where their friends and family can see.

“Being recognized at an office dinner or luncheon is one thing, but being bragged about by your boss on a social platform for the world to see can leave your employees feeling so valued and appreciated,” says Ray Leon, CEO of Pet Insurance Review. “Share those major accomplishments online and boost your brand’s social media presence along with your appearance as a great place to work because of your pride for your employees and their efforts.”

“Depending on your industry, your staff may not be seen by your customers on a regular basis,” says Dan Potter, Head of Digital at CRAFTD London. “In those scenarios, it can be easy for them to feel like their efforts don’t make a difference, but when something is posted about them on social media and others are able to comment or interact with the post to show their appreciation and respect for what your staff member does, it can give them that validation and motivation to be even better.”

Ditch the Banquets 

Company dinners aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but your staff probably feels the same. Instead of booking an expensive venue with expensive catering to host a typical formal awards night, try finding something a bit more fun to do with your staff to show your appreciation for them.

“I love hearing the creative ways that industry leaders are finding to recognize their staff,” says Lina Miranda, VP of Marketing at AdQuick. “I’ve heard of some that will invite their entire staff over for a dinner and game night at their house or they’ll go out as a company or team to some fun venues like mini-golf or an escape room for experiences that can function as a staff recognition time while also building team morale and relationships outside of the office.”

“A lot of brands are rethinking the award process for staff recognition,” says Sean Doherty, GM of Box Genie. “Sure, it’s nice to get dressed up and take your partner with you to a dinner banquet, but these banquets often don’t allow for much casual conversation or team bonding. Instead of a stuffy banquet, try thinking of award or recognition locations that are more casual or where people can invite their families to come along. I’ve heard of companies renting spaces at the park, zoo, amusement park, and even a private movie theater to facilitate these events.”

Conclusion

Staff recognition is something that brands should be doing to help encourage their staff to do their best and strive for excellence. Encouraging your team to stay at the top of their game can take on a few different appearances. Many of the ideas above can be used together to promote a positive workplace culture that facilitates growth and motivation.

Employee recognition doesn’t have to be a fancy banquet. In fact, most staff feel banquets and ceremonies are too inauthentic. Encouraging peer recognition and meeting the behavioral needs of your staff are two of the more basic methods of recognition.

It also isn’t a bad idea to look into what your staff wants for recognition purposes. Ideas like social media appreciation posts and team events where recognition is awarded are more public displays of appreciation that can help motivate your staff to stay at the top of their game.

We hope this article has left you with some great ideas to implement within your brand as you rethink employee recognition with some more out-of-the-box ideas.

For as much as the eCommerce industry relies on well made products which meets the needs of the customer, an equal reliance on personal connection also exists. Even though the internet has unequivocally removed many personal elements, the natural desire for these still resides within people. This has been proven on a variety of levels – if people do not feel connected to a company they could potentially purchase from, they are far less likely to follow through on that purchase. Obviously, no company wants to lose a sale. In fact, they would far prefer the opposite. Therefore, it stands to reason, making a concerted effort to connect with people through strategies geared for them is wise. Computer scientist and entrepreneur Paul Graham presented additional support for this approach, “You can’t wait for customers to come to you. You have to figure out where they are, go there and bring them back to your store”

The sheer number of unique types of people across the world may cause hesitation to rise within anyone attempting to improve their conversion rates through personalized eCommerce strategies. To alleviate this feeling, we have spoken to six different business experts for their opinions on this topic. 

Make it Simple

Bradley Hall is the CEO of SONU Sleep, a brand offering mattresses designed for side sleepers. He believes keeping every aspect of a company’s online presence as basic as possible to invite more people in.

“Everyone has had the experience of preparing to go through an online checkout or registration page and skimming the amount of effort it will take to get through it all. You may not want to admit it, but I’m sure you’ve had a time where the amount of information being asked of you resulted in you closing the page and doing something else with your time entirely. As the person in charge of creating these online experiences, it’s important to realize how vital it is to make them as simple as possible.”

Social Proof is Your Best Friend

Tumble specializes in washable and spill proof rugs. Their Co-Founder, Justin Soleimani, suggests utilizing the preexisting relationships as building blocks for the future.

“The flashy advertisements and widespread marketing attempts will only get you so far, at least in my opinion. The world has shifted because of technology, but human behavior has really changed that much. For whatever reason, we’re wired to be much more trusting of another human being over anything else that can present an opinion. Companies have taken notice of this as evidenced by the unique uses of social proof, or the practice of using the thoughts and opinions of existing customers in your next marketing plan.” 

Recognize the Give and Take

The nature of the interactions between customer and company can sometimes get lost in the proverbial shuffle. Kinoo is a business providing a video communication app and controller that uses augmented reality and virtual activities. Their CEO, Jim Marggraff, considers it necessary to pay attention to these relationship dynamics.

“In some magical vacuum, the world might be a more enjoyable place for business owners if they could sell or give nothing in return for a customer’s money. But that’s just not the world we live in. Customers give their money to companies because they are receiving something in return. That’s not to say companies should sit around and wait for this to happen. Doing that could spell your doom. Instead, to incentivize customer engagement, companies should make the first move by offering something first such as a discount or exclusive access.”

Do Not Overwhelm the User

Eric Elggren is the Co-Founder of Andar, a brand offering full grain leather wallets and leather goods. He advises others to think about how the customer will navigate a company’s website or social media page.

“First impressions are just as important online as they are face-to-face. When people open up a web page, what they see could be enough to influence their decision making one way or another. This may be a bit of an extreme example but the idea behind it still stands. One of the quickest ways to alienate a user is to overwhelm them. If people are overwhelmed or confused by the shopping or ordering process, they are more than happy to take their business elsewhere.” 

Dive into Analytics

Arka specializes in eco-friendly custom packaging and sustainable boxes. Their CEO, Phillip Akhzar, believes there are nearly endless possibilities when it comes to the statistics involving online interaction.

“Online tracking software has brought us to a point where, provided you have the requisite system in place, you can see second by second information related to what people are doing on your website. The insights you can gain here should prompt massive change across the site. Why? Well, it should be apparent what is working for people and what isn’t. If this isn’t the case, you can consult some experts in the field. Either way, don’t sell yourself short by leaving your website design to guesswork.” 

Keep your Theme

Internet literacy is very real, and most people have a solid grasp on it nowadays. OLIPOP provides canned soda made with alternative plant-based ingredients. Their E-commerce Manager, Melanie Bedwell, proposes taking this into account.

“I think each one of us has clicked an advertisement only to end up on a site that doesn’t resemble the company behind the ad. Or the product that was being marketed to you doesn’t appear the same on the site. Even if you haven’t had this happen to you, if it did happen to you, I’m sure you would recognize it right away. This is due to how well we know the internet at this point, it’s just second nature. So, to keep your potential customers from going through the same thing, make certain you keep your themes and images consistent.”

At the end of the day, it is critical to remember that each person is unique and different methods for improving conversion rates will be necessary. Furthermore, one must build relationships with these people. Bryan Eisenberg, the Co-Founder of BuyerLegends, put it best, “For you to achieve your goals, visitors must first achieve theirs.”