--- title: "Know Your Workflow: Keep Things Flowing" id: "34668" type: "post" slug: "know-your-workflow-keep-things-flowing" published_at: "2016-08-19T20:06:26+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T17:17:33+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/08/19/know-your-workflow-keep-things-flowing/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/08/19/know-your-workflow-keep-things-flowing.md" excerpt: "The importance of not letting the workflow defined by your tools get in the way of your organization's ability to collaborate. Also: Some basic tips to keep members engaged." taxonomy_category: - "Operations" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Board Collaboration" - "Mid-Level Professional" - "productivity" - "Technology" - "workflow" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Know Your Workflow: Keep Things Flowing Is it possible your organization has too many ways to collaborate? Rich Millington of FeverBee suggests in his latest post that, instead of bringing on yet another productivity tool, the real problem you might be facing with collaboration is that your workflow is overly complicated, which slows everyone down. But making changes to improve things requires kid gloves: By being too drastic, you could end up making the problem worse. “Understand that most collaboration problems are workflow problems,” [Millington writes in his blog post (opens in a new tab)](https://www.feverbee.com/workflow/) . “Either gradually help individual teams within the organization make a big change or simplify the change for the entire organization. Minimize the disruption to workflow by being creative and embracing integrative tools. It’s a lot easier to make improvements this way.” ### Respect and Rewards > 5 Celebrations to Increase Member Engagement [https://t.co/lVmNCei4Bm (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/lVmNCei4Bm) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Dave Martin (@15davemartin) [August 19, 2016 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/15davemartin/status/766678442146496512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Getting members engaged** in your organization isn’t always an easy task—in fact, it can be a challenge to move the needle. Over at Aptify, [writer Jennifer Barrell has a few ideas (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.aptify.com/5-celebrations-to-increase-member-engagement) for moving that needle, and they come down to two things: respect and rewards. One of the best ways to show respect is to listen closely to member feedback, she writes. “Members often ask for certain training or tell you when they need better ways to find qualified employees for their businesses,” Barrell explains. “Give them what they ask for—that’s the best reward you can offer.” [Check out her full post (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.aptify.com/5-celebrations-to-increase-member-engagement) for a few more ideas. ### Other Links of Note **Fridays can be tough.** Don’t make them tougher by checking your email first thing in the morning, [writes Lifehacker’s Kristin Wong (opens in a new tab)](http://lifehacker.com/why-you-should-avoid-checking-email-first-thing-friday-1785480177) . **Wish your phone lasted a whole lot longer?** You may want to keep an eye out for what’s happening at MIT. Apparently, an alum of the school [has created a battery that lasts twice as long (opens in a new tab)](http://news.mit.edu/2016/lithium-metal-batteries-double-power-consumer-electronics-0817) as batteries currently on the market. **Twitter is working on ways** to improve the level of the tweets you see. The company launched a “quality filter” on Thursday. [Check its blog for more details (opens in a new tab)](https://blog.twitter.com/2016/new-ways-to-control-your-experience-on-twitter) . [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Board Collaboration](https://associationsnow.com/tag/board-collaboration/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) [#productivity](https://associationsnow.com/tag/productivity/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) [#workflow](https://associationsnow.com/tag/workflow/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [PodcastSustainable Events: How Associations and DMOs Are Leading the ChargeMarch 31, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/31/sustainable-events-how-associations-and-dmos-are-leading-the-charge/) - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F08%2F19%2Fknow-your-workflow-keep-things-flowing%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !