InspiringApps News

How to Stay Connected and Productive in a Flexible Work Environment

The COVID-19 outbreak is challenging organizations around the globe to stay agile in the face of changing conditions. From switching to virtual event management after trade shows get canceled, setting up workspaces that allow minimal contact in offices, improving their communication with staff, and many teams are connecting remotely and moving away from traditional work processes for the first time. In a previous post, we discussed the benefits of flexible work policies. InspiringApps remains committed to allowing employees the freedom to personalize their approach to completing their work successfully. Part of that success comes from remaining connected and motivated when we are physically apart. We’ve found we best succeed with productive flexible work in a few ways. Team Connection When completing a puzzle, it is helpful and motivating to see the larger picture. Similarly, keeping employees informed about larger organizational developments, as well as their coworkers’ contributions to shared goals, promotes team cohesion and helps generate more informed solutions. Hosting a regular event that increases employee awareness of company-wide operations goes a long way in uniting mobile teams. InspiringApps hosts a team-wide demo day at least once a month, and sometimes more frequently. Since social distancing started we’ve heard from our design team about the steps they take and the software they use to make the apps we create beautiful. The development team showcased their work by demonstrating the features of a complex fintech app we’re developing. And coming up next is a demo from our Quality Assurance team about the tools they use to ensure that software bugs are squashed before our apps go live. Informal meetings that give employees the opportunity to engage on both a professional and personal level can also advance team unity. If you follow these tips then you will be able to keep your meetings informal while also being productive enough to hit all the agendas of the meeting. Our team usually gathers in the conference room every Wednesday afternoon for lively discussion about current events, TV shows, and music. We’ve moved the gathering online during this time of social distance and have found our engagement with each other to be just as strong. The connection takes a bit more effort over a video conference, but it’s worth it to feel a small sense of normalcy with our weekly routine and to chat about something other than our client projects. Additional advice for engaging whole teams over web meetings has surfaced in recent months. For example, a recent publication suggests using icebreakers to open conversations, calling on team members to increase participation, and debriefing after virtual meetings. Staying Motivated and Productive at Home While flexible work arrangements can boost output, team members may need to adjust their own strategies for productivity. Working remotely requires a different approach to personal efficiency. Our team has the following suggestions for staying productive while working from home: Take breaks during the day to move away from your work space at home. Take a walk outside or complete a workout. If you have kids, try to arrange independent activities or learning for them, and if you have a partner, alternate times when you will be responsible for the kids. This obviously depends on the age, independence, and school needs of your children and may be easier said than done! Remember that your team and your clients rely on you. Your productive flexible work is important to their success. Additional tips for excelling from home include establishing an inviting work “spot,” developing a routine that suits your energy levels throughout the day, and writing your to-do list the night before. Now more than ever organizations must find new ways to connect teams and continue to work effectively in order to adapt to a changing global economy. At InspiringApps, we have learned firsthand that connectedness and productivity can be cultivated flexibly. The belief that we are #InspiredWhereWeAre has long been foundational to our operations and continues to drive our work during challenging times. InspiringApps is intent on developing digital products that delight users and reflect customized market solutions. Please contact us with questions regarding how we can bring your next project to life.

Team Connection

When completing a puzzle, it is helpful and motivating to see the larger picture. Similarly, keeping employees informed about larger organizational developments, as well as their coworkers’ contributions to shared goals, promotes team cohesion and helps generate more informed solutions. Hosting a regular event that increases employee awareness of company-wide operations goes a long way in uniting mobile teams. InspiringApps hosts a team-wide demo day at least once a month, and sometimes more frequently. Since social distancing started we’ve heard from our design team about the steps they take and the software they use to make the apps we create beautiful. The development team showcased their work by demonstrating the features of a complex fintech app we’re developing. And coming up next is a demo from our Quality Assurance team about the tools they use to ensure that software bugs are squashed before our apps go live.

Informal meetings that give employees the opportunity to engage on both a professional and personal level can also advance team unity. If you follow these tips then you will be able to keep your meetings informal while also being productive enough to hit all the agendas of the meeting. Our team usually gathers in the conference room every Wednesday afternoon for lively discussion about current events, TV shows, and music. We’ve moved the gathering online during this time of social distance and have found our engagement with each other to be just as strong. The connection takes a bit more effort over a video conference, but it’s worth it to feel a small sense of normalcy with our weekly routine and to chat about something other than our client projects. Additional advice for engaging whole teams over web meetings has surfaced in recent months. For example, a recent publication suggests using icebreakers to open conversations, calling on team members to increase participation, and debriefing after virtual meetings.

Staying Motivated and Productive at Home

While flexible work arrangements can boost output, team members may need to adjust their own strategies for productivity. Working remotely requires a different approach to personal efficiency. Our team has the following suggestions for staying productive while working from home:

Take breaks during the day to move away from your work space at home. Take a walk outside or complete a workout.
If you have kids, try to arrange independent activities or learning for them, and if you have a partner, alternate times when you will be responsible for the kids. This obviously depends on the age, independence, and school needs of your children and may be easier said than done!
Remember that your team and your clients rely on you. Your productive flexible work is important to their success.

Additional tips for excelling from home include establishing an inviting work “spot,” developing a routine that suits your energy levels throughout the day, and writing your to-do list the night before.

Now more than ever organizations must find new ways to connect teams and continue to work effectively in order to adapt to a changing global economy. At InspiringApps, we have learned firsthand that connectedness and productivity can be cultivated flexibly. The belief that we are #InspiredWhereWeAre has long been foundational to our operations and continues to drive our work during challenging times.

InspiringApps is intent on developing digital products that delight users and reflect customized market solutions. Please contact us with questions regarding how we can bring your next project to life.

Watch the Full Interview

Quote From the Interview

“Foundational for us is definitely respect and support for one another on our team. And that goes a surprisingly long way. And it’s also not as common as I would have thought that it is, but that’s really important to us. Everybody on the team is absolutely respected for their contribution, and we want to help them grow in the ways that make sense for them—whether that’s technically or or to pick up non-technical skills that are important to them. We do all of that over the course of their career at InspiringApps.”

—Brad Weber

About Kendra Prospero

Kendra Prospero is the CEO and Founder of Turning the Corner, LLC. For over a decade, Kendra’s career has been all about creating healthier and more rewarding work environments. She helps people connect to work they love, while transforming workplace culture to retain top talent, increase productivity, and build confident leaders. She has served hundreds of clients in revamping their corporate cultures, revitalizing their recruiting and helping them retain their people. Her clients include Google, Infusionsoft, Ricoh USA, Project Management Institute, Galvanize, Boomtown, SurveyGizmo, and SHRM Colorado.

About Brad Weber

Brad Weber has more than 25 years of software development experience. Brad received his MBA from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado and spent several years with Accenture before striking off on his own adventures, including the successful founding of four different technology companies. With a passion for software artisanship, Brad founded InspiringApps to build a team that could tackle larger app development challenges than he was able to handle on his own. His leadership creates an environment where the most innovative digital products continue to come to life.

About InspiringApps

App development that makes an impact. InspiringApps builds digital products that help companies impact their employees, customers, and communities. Yes, we build web, mobile, and custom apps, but what we offer is something above and beyond that. What we offer is inspiration. Our award-winning work has included 200+ apps since the dawn of the iPhone. Our core values: integrity, respect, commitment, inclusivity, and empathy. Our guarantee: finish line, every time, for every project. Get in touch at hello@InspiringApps.com.

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App Design

Designing Apps for Gen Alpha

The possibilities are endless when it comes to Gen Alpha. As the most diverse generation, they are forward-thinking and brilliant innovators. Gen Alphas were born into a hyper-technological and entrepreneurial world, making them the most globally connected generation ever. This demographic has tremendous earning potential and will have the highest spending power in history. Technology is a part of daily life. Thus, Gen Alphas prioritize authentic connection and meaningful causes. In a previous post, Designing Apps for Different Generations, we looked broadly at how your generation influences your relationship to technology throughout your lifetime. Each generation has shared experiences during their formative years that help to shape collective values. These values, in turn, influence motivations, preferences, and expectations regarding technology. As you develop products aimed at this generation, understanding these values can provide insights to consider when designing for Gen Alpha. Gen Alpha Background If you can bet on any generation making big waves, it’s Generation Alpha. Born in the 21st century from 2010-2025, they’re the largest generation and most likely to live the longest. Gen Alphas are also predicted to be the most educated and wealthiest generation of all time. Born into a global pandemic, this generation has become increasingly immersed in technology and digital experiences. As a result, Gen Alphas seek authentic communication and connection more than ever. Unlike their Millennial parents, Gen Alphas frequent platforms like TikTok, Instagram Live, Houseparty, Clubhouse, and similar platforms. AI is part of their daily lives, and they frequently use technologies like Siri and Alexa (among others) from an early age. Due to shorter attention spans in our increasingly digitalized world, short, easily digestible content is imperative. Creativity and innovation are common themes among this brilliant and up-and-coming generation. This demographic has a tremendous amount of earning potential. They like to think out of the box, are incredibly technologically savvy, and value the importance of social causes. They tend to place a high value on climate change and inclusivity. Gen Alpha is a passionate group that desires to help others and improve the world around them. Gen Alpha & Technology Generation Alpha is immersed in a world of technology. According to McCrindle, Gen Alpha has more screen time than previous generations. The pandemic has only intensified technology use. With few places to go, Gen Alpha kids turned to their screens to combat their inner loneliness. One must design with authentic influence to bridge the gap between digital technology and the human experience. Gen Alpha is tired of the manufactured experience and is looking for a genuine connection that speaks to them personally. They tend to have short attention spans and are interested in fast-paced, easily-consumable media content. Due to the plethora of information available to this modern generation, Gen Alpha believes strongly in the power of data and is greatly influenced by it. Gen Alphas are enthusiastic about documenting and sharing their own content and like interacting with others digitally. Influencers can profoundly impact their purchasing decisions. Gen Alphas want customizable, meaningful digital experiences that bring them value and uplift their daily life. Considerations When Designing for Gen Alpha Authentic Influence Niche content creators greatly influence Generation Alpha. That said, this generation is bombarded with influencers and advertisements. We can expect Gen Alpha to distrust brands that seem phony or don’t have their best interests at heart. Similarly, they will likely reject traditional forms of marketing much as their Millennial parents did. Authentic influence is critical for gaining the trust of Generation Alpha. Gen Alphas are looking for genuine connections with brands that align with their values. Raw, real-life experiences, humanized messaging, and value-based technology will be best received best by Gen Alphas. In short—less curated experiences and more authenticity. Having concentrated human-centric features will dramatically shape the Gen Alpha’s user experience. Return on User Experience Gen Alphas invest in experiences that enrich their lives and, in turn, have high expectations for all elements of their experience. The level of transparency of taking the customer on the journey from start to finish will significantly benefit this generation. They want an immersive experience with the entire process demonstrated to them, not just a cherry-picked, glamorous experience. Leveraging interactive marketing tactics such as user-generated content allows the user to be part of an experience. Here’s a formula to constantly improve a Gen Alpha’s user experience: 1. Observe. Develop a thorough understanding of your customer journeys and pinpoint what matters most to them along the way. 2. Evaluate. Collect operational data and derive meaningful results with a key performance indicator framework. 3. Act. Use those insights to improve your app to fit the user’s preferences and desires. A rule-based action engine can help expedite and automate the process. Connected to Social Issues Generation Alpha cares deeply about social issues. Causes like climate change, diversity and inclusion, fair representation, acceptance, and sustainability will be at the forefront of their value system. They’ll be seeking out brands and technologies that combat social issues. With that in mind, be transparent about your mission, impact, and what you do to solve it. Brands looking to engage with this audience must embody and foster inclusive and accepting environments. As the most diverse generation, brands can build trust by representing their consumers authentically. Here are some questions to consider when designing for Gen Alpha: What are the demographic and psychographics of the country? How can you reduce our imprint on the environment and create a more sustainable solution? Where are there additional opportunities for broader representation? Concluding Thoughts on Designing for Gen Alpha Taking Gen Alphas’ background, needs, and technological preferences into account will help broaden your app’s reach and market potential. Many digital products can potentially be solutions for users spanning multiple generations, so there is much to consider. In addition to our free guide, Designing Digital Products for Every Generation, we’ve highlighted key takeaways on designing digital products for Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers, and for all. If you have questions or concerns about designing for Gen Alpha—or any other generation—we would be happy to consult with you free of charge. Get in touch with us today!

9 days ago

In a previous post, Designing Apps for Different Generations, we looked broadly at how your generation influences your relationship to technology throughout your lifetime. Each generation has shared experiences during their formative years that help to shape collective values. These values, in turn, influence motivations, preferences, and expectations regarding technology. As you develop products aimed at this generation, understanding these values can provide insights to consider when designing for Gen Alpha.

Gen Alpha Background

If you can bet on any generation making big waves, it’s Generation Alpha. Born in the 21st century from 2010-2025, they’re the largest generation and most likely to live the longest. Gen Alphas are also predicted to be the most educated and wealthiest generation of all time.

Born into a global pandemic, this generation has become increasingly immersed in technology and digital experiences. As a result, Gen Alphas seek authentic communication and connection more than ever. Unlike their Millennial parents, Gen Alphas frequent platforms like TikTok, Instagram Live, Houseparty, Clubhouse, and similar platforms. AI is part of their daily lives, and they frequently use technologies like Siri and Alexa (among others) from an early age. Due to shorter attention spans in our increasingly digitalized world, short, easily digestible content is imperative.

Creativity and innovation are common themes among this brilliant and up-and-coming generation. This demographic has a tremendous amount of earning potential. They like to think out of the box, are incredibly technologically savvy, and value the importance of social causes. They tend to place a high value on climate change and inclusivity. Gen Alpha is a passionate group that desires to help others and improve the world around them.

Gen Alpha & Technology

Generation Alpha is immersed in a world of technology. According to McCrindle, Gen Alpha has more screen time than previous generations. The pandemic has only intensified technology use. With few places to go, Gen Alpha kids turned to their screens to combat their inner loneliness.

One must design with authentic influence to bridge the gap between digital technology and the human experience. Gen Alpha is tired of the manufactured experience and is looking for a genuine connection that speaks to them personally. They tend to have short attention spans and are interested in fast-paced, easily-consumable media content. Due to the plethora of information available to this modern generation, Gen Alpha believes strongly in the power of data and is greatly influenced by it.

Gen Alphas are enthusiastic about documenting and sharing their own content and like interacting with others digitally. Influencers can profoundly impact their purchasing decisions. Gen Alphas want customizable, meaningful digital experiences that bring them value and uplift their daily life.

Considerations When Designing for Gen Alpha

Authentic Influence

Niche content creators greatly influence Generation Alpha. That said, this generation is bombarded with influencers and advertisements. We can expect Gen Alpha to distrust brands that seem phony or don’t have their best interests at heart. Similarly, they will likely reject traditional forms of marketing much as their Millennial parents did.

Authentic influence is critical for gaining the trust of Generation Alpha. Gen Alphas are looking for genuine connections with brands that align with their values. Raw, real-life experiences, humanized messaging, and value-based technology will be best received best by Gen Alphas. In short—less curated experiences and more authenticity. Having concentrated human-centric features will dramatically shape the Gen Alpha’s user experience.

Return on User Experience

Gen Alphas invest in experiences that enrich their lives and, in turn, have high expectations for all elements of their experience. The level of transparency of taking the customer on the journey from start to finish will significantly benefit this generation. They want an immersive experience with the entire process demonstrated to them, not just a cherry-picked, glamorous experience. Leveraging interactive marketing tactics such as user-generated content allows the user to be part of an experience.

Here’s a formula to constantly improve a Gen Alpha’s user experience:

1. Observe.

Develop a thorough understanding of your customer journeys and pinpoint what matters most to them along the way.

2. Evaluate.

Collect operational data and derive meaningful results with a key performance indicator framework.

3. Act.

Use those insights to improve your app to fit the user’s preferences and desires. A rule-based action engine can help expedite and automate the process.

Connected to Social Issues

Generation Alpha cares deeply about social issues. Causes like climate change, diversity and inclusion, fair representation, acceptance, and sustainability will be at the forefront of their value system. They’ll be seeking out brands and technologies that combat social issues. With that in mind, be transparent about your mission, impact, and what you do to solve it.

Brands looking to engage with this audience must embody and foster inclusive and accepting environments. As the most diverse generation, brands can build trust by representing their consumers authentically.

Here are some questions to consider when designing for Gen Alpha:

What are the demographic and psychographics of the country?
How can you reduce our imprint on the environment and create a more sustainable solution?
Where are there additional opportunities for broader representation?

Concluding Thoughts on Designing for Gen Alpha

Taking Gen Alphas’ background, needs, and technological preferences into account will help broaden your app’s reach and market potential.

Many digital products can potentially be solutions for users spanning multiple generations, so there is much to consider. In addition to our free guide, Designing Digital Products for Every Generation, we’ve highlighted key takeaways on designing digital products for Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers, and for all.

If you have questions or concerns about designing for Gen Alpha—or any other generation—we would be happy to consult with you free of charge. Get in touch with us today!

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