These Apps and Process Hacks Will Get You the Game-Changing Suggestions You Need!
Nashville, TN – August 26, 2024 – Business owners and managers often discuss the importance of a collaborative work environment, yet making it a reality is no simple task. The latest episode of the Automate Your Agency podcast, hosted by industry veterans Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson, dives deep into the transformative power of team involvement in decision-making.
If you're into business growth, you've heard the buzz about creating a collaborative workplace, emphasizing its positive impact on the company culture and employee autonomy. It’s all about getting employees involved in idea generation and decision-making, leading to a more inclusive and dynamic environment.
The Ultimate Process Hack to Winning Suggestions
The benefits of incorporating team suggestions are clear. Empowering team members and giving them ownership of the company’s success leads to greater investment in their work. It also eases change management, as the team has ownership over the ideas and changes, rather than just having changes imposed on them.
Most importantly, suggestions offer opportunities and pave the way for impactful ideas that can lead to significant business improvements and long-term success. This is what sparked a business idea, which contributed to Alane and Micah’s 8-figure digital agency enterprise.
“One of our managers said, ‘I think we could remove one of our services where we were merging duplicates of listings on Facebook.’ Instead, we went all in on trying to get negative reviews removed. And you know who loved it more? It was our clients.” says Boyd.
So, how can you start harnessing your team’s ideas? Here are the top three things that Alane and Micah teach us from their Automate Your Agency episode:
Check Your Ego at the Door
Cultivating a collaborative work culture doesn't happen overnight. Often, the shift in mindset must begin with business owners themselves.
"We had to learn how to not be the hero, not always be the idea generators. This was our way of changing that dynamic," says Alane Boyd, describing how she and Micah began their journey in implementing a well-oiled suggestion system for their team.
It's important to recognize that you don’t have a monopoly on great ideas. Employees on the front lines, who witness firsthand how processes fare in practice versus theory, often provide the best ideas and insights.
Use Messaging Tools for idea-sharing
Create a dedicated space for these discussions to thrive. A Slack channel could be an effective messaging tool for these spaces or a space in a project management system like Asana, ClickUp, or Monday.com. Having this open channel lets team suggestions flow freely with minimal facilitation.
“We had a save money, make money Slack channel that the team could be a part of, and that team member would just slack the idea in there, and then we just used emojis to vote,” says Boyd.
“The beauty of the system, too, is that it went to a committee and to the team for a vote. So we didn't have to care if it was a good idea or a bad idea, because the team would say yay or nay,” adds Micah Johnson.
Reward Winning Ideas
Motivate your team by offering bonuses or other incentives for ideas that prove successful. This not only encourages participation but also fosters a sense of ownership. If you are not sure of what reward your team would be interested in, ask them what they care about.
“Our team eventually opted for extra PTO, which was their idea and we LOVED it. Micah and I would have never come up with that on our own. We asked them, and they told us exactly what they valued, and we were happy to accommodate,” adds Boyd.
“If you are a franchise owner who has the capability to share ideas and get some sort of bonus, even just appreciation, or an announcement that credit right, and they come up with some idea that could be applied to all the other locations– the value that could be generated from a single idea is just mind-blowing to me,” explains Johnson.
Our Final Tip: It is important to test out ideas and treat them as opportunities to learn, rather than final decisions. Don’t get too caught up in whether an idea is right or wrong– just give it a shot. Set aside personal biases and test things out. Even if an idea doesn’t work, it can lead to better suggestions and unexpected breakthroughs.
This approach keeps innovation flowing and might just help you find that game-changing solution you didn’t know you needed. This bonus implementation guide gives you a step-by-step guide in getting those suggestions going for your team, along with the resources needed to make it happen.
For the complete episode, tune in to the Automate Your Agency podcast, dropping new episodes every week.
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About Workday Ninja
Workday Ninja, formerly BGBO Co, specializes in training and implementation for Asana, ClickUp, and Monday, offering webinars, workshops, and hands-on support. Their services help businesses streamline digital operations, reclaim lost time, and enhance project management efficiency. By providing tailored training and expert implementation, Workday Ninja empowers teams to optimize their workflows, increase productivity, and achieve consistent project success. For more information, visit www.workdayninja.com.
About Automate Your Agency
Hosted by serial entrepreneurs and industry leaders Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson, the show dives deep into the operational challenges that many businesses face– from breaking free of daily operational grind to doubling business revenue without doubling your headcount. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2354692
Meet the Hosts
Alane Boyd is a visionary leader and serial entrepreneur with two successful SaaS exits under her belt. Recognized as a Top Leader under 40 and a finalist for Top Companies to Watch in 2021, Alane's expertise spans operations, sales, marketing, and technical skills. A published author and a mentor to many, she is passionate about impact-driven, result-oriented leadership.
Micah Johnson is an accomplished entrepreneur and advisor, known for his ability to bridge the gap between business requirements and technical execution. With a knack for identifying system gaps and implementing solutions, Micah has been recognized as a Top Leader under 30 and has significantly contributed to scaling businesses for large brands and manufacturers across the US.
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