It’s that time of year again. A time when all of us here in the U.S.A. give thanks for what we have and show that appreciation by watching football, consuming copious amounts of L -Tryptophan and subsequently napping. Showing thanks and appreciation is year-round Standard Operating Procedure for tech startups, however. Be it the perks companies use to show appreciation for their staff or the design and UX considerations companies put into apps, it’s the little things that matter. So let’s reflect on some of those little things, shall we?
As we noted a few weeks back, it’s no longer enough for your app to just work. Users expect that. What makes your app successful is how it delights; how elegant it is, how pleasant it is to use. As our own Rich Weiss so, ahem, elegantly put it, “Memorable or intuitive apps and websites that connect with and understand the user have proven to be far more successful in the market than those that don’t.” When it comes to the difference between “fine” or “serviceable” and “great!” it’s the little things that matter.
The little things – or “perks” as they are known in workplace vernacular – also matter for companies looking to delight current and prospective employees. Workers in today’s tech startup world (and, increasingly, beyond) are often looking for something more than the standard, minimum viable job environment. From Emily Micucci in the Worcester Business Journal:
Tech companies seem to lead the way in designing workplace perk programs designed to lure candidates and keep talented employees, with Google an obvious example. It counts free on-site haircuts, laundry service and table games among its famous perks.
But you don’t need to be a Google employee to break up your workday with a game of ping pong. Many … companies offer similar benefits to their employees in an effort to create a pleasant work environment conducive to creativity — and hard work.
Citing the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) annual Workplace Forecast, Micucci notes that “attracting and retaining talented employees looms large in the minds of human resource managers.” She points out that survey respondents clearly selected it as the biggest challenge facing them over the next decade. Micucci also speaks with an entrepreneur who is currently focusing on issues facing employees:
Fil Firmani has a wealth of insight. He has spent a career working for technology startups and is trying to launch his own, called workforceM, a mobile productivity app for salespeople. Firmani has enjoyed his share of perks over the years.
But he said the most important one is intangible: flexibility…”You’re balancing out when you’re working and taking the breaks when you need it,” Firmani said. “It’s the biggest perk you can offer.”
True that, Fil. And, as one of the people quoted in the article, I’d add it’s important not to placate workers with perks but rather to use a holistic approach to show appreciation. It’s about showing gratitude and creating a culture and environment of collaboration and trust, not just free stuff.
So here’s to the little things. Be it for the usability of your favorite app that keeps you coming back for more or the perks you may enjoy that make your job awesome, what better time of year to give thanks? Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some football to watch.