Using a button to run a workflow?

Using a button to run a workflow?

Hey everyone, Googled this and found reference to it but no guides or details on how.  Just wondering, if I have a workflow that is set to update fields and send an email, can that be triggered with a button?  Right now there's a dropdown that when the user changes it to a specific value the workflow triggers.  So even if I could use a button to change a field that triggers it.  I just hate having to make users perform actions by editing the field, changing the dropdown and saving, much easier if you can just click a "Submit for approval" type button.  Thanks!