Good answers so far. I'm going to take apart the question though...CRM systems aren't to find leads or better leads. Remember it's a CUSTOMER relationship management program. There's great tools to help you find leads and make them customers.. I say this because it leads to the real role of CRMs in the role we leverage it, to be the "assistant buyer' to our customers. What I want to see in a CRM is what's important to them, not to me. In fact, if, like Linked In does, I could see on a customer's record, people in industries like him and what they're posting/tweeting etc, news stories important to those with his title as well of course as his history with my company, that's an ideal CRM. I'd like him to welcome every call and email I have because I've identified something important to him, sometimes before he does himself.

Lots of great answers here on motivation and there are many (well seven really) ways people are motivated. Should your question seek an answer more closely aligned with the economic motivation of an equity share, perhaps a lesson from our crowdfunding experience will help. We often counsel entrepreneurs (who, like you, are seeking to gain committed motivated folks) that a revenue royalty approach may be best. In fact to preserve more control, avoid diluting ownership or otherwise impeding later rounds of funding, and to know in advance the most such a motivation will cost you, a share provided to each person of the revenue might be an attractive option. In the context of an employee this is the well proven model of a commission. No surprise there. Thinking about how other stakeholders in your organization, such as partners, suppliers, just plain believers might be motivated to help you achieve your mission. Sure you could rely on commissions but what if the spouse of your employee is a better salesperson than they are? Just some food for thought if you are seeking an alternative to the "stock options" motivator and the resulting complications.

One of the ways I advise entrepreneurial folks to grow the income they need for making their ideas executable, profitable and sustainable is to invest in a program to teach them trading in the finance markets (equities, debt, commodities and currencies) This provides an income hedge as well as a great education in how businesses work, are built, bought and sold. I've seen my clients gain financial security with just a few hours each week freeing up their time and freeing them from worry that obstructs the realization of their product, service or cause.

Tough question without some context to give a succinct answer. Obviously an incremental improvement that will benefit a large group of users can be solicited in a survey. Apps that are "expert systems" delivering knowledge for specific circumstance or user communities may require more thorough engagement, (a first aid app for campers or sailors for instance). Whatever way of gathering use cases or other user suggestions for performance or feature improvement, what is common to all is the need to have a great system for estimating time, sweat and dollars to do it so you don't make false promises and a way to keep everyone focused (a huddle or sharepoint) so that the promises you make are kept.