Building a Workflow Fit For Superheroes

Let's face it, workflows can be boring. But they don't have to be. Here's how to create a workflow that's not only efficient but also a little bit fun (Disclaimer: Not for teams without a sense of adventure or humor.):

1. Set Goals that Feel Like a Quest:

• Make it exciting: Instead of "tasks," think of them as "quests" or "missions."

• Add a reward: Plan rewards for your team when they achieve a goal. Avoid the pizza parties. Survey your team to find out what motivates them, and keep in mind it may be different from person to person. If you’re not able to financially reward them, try offering a half-day Friday after the team reaches a goal.

2. Plan Like a Superhero:

• Break it down: Divide your tasks into smaller, more manageable "plans of attack."

• Have a backup plan: Just like a superhero, be prepared for unexpected "villains" (aka obstacles) with a contingency plan.

3. Communicate Like a Gossip:

• Keep it light: Share updates and progress in a fun, engaging way. Find ways to bring humor and fun into the culture, while also creating space for your team to bring up concerns when they have them.

• Use emojis or gifs: Who doesn't love a good emoji or gif? (Optional, but come on…)

4. Collaborate Like a Team of Avengers:

• Assign roles: Each team member is a unique superhero with their own strengths. Also try asking if anyone wants to learn or practice new skills by taking on or helping in areas they don’t usually work in. Employees that are provided the opportunity to grow and learn often have higher job satisfaction scores.

• Have fun meetings along with the serious: Make meetings more interesting with games, icebreakers, or even a virtual coffee break, but don’t overdo it. Keep meetings to a minimum so your team spends more time actually “doing” than just talking about it.

5. Improve Like a Supervillain:

• Embrace failure: Everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them and become even more powerful. Ask the team how to adjust and improve for next time.

• Celebrate wins: Reward yourself and your team for every victory, no matter how small. It can be too easy to focus on the negatives and mistakes, but the successes are just as (if not more) important to highlight.

Remember, a successful workflow is about more than just getting things done. It's about having fun, staying motivated, and achieving your goals in a way that's enjoyable and rewarding. In all seriousness, workflows support your team and your business, keeping everyone on the same page while establishing standard practices that keep the moving parts operating smoothly.

Feeling stuck? I’m here to help! Let’s chat about what’s holding you and your team up and see if we can come up with an action plan, so you can go back to watching your business thrive.

Morgan Schreiber, The Process Strategist (And secretly an Avenger)