Your software development team deals with a lot of things in the workplace. The tasks that they handle are not only challenging, but they can also be frustrating. The creativity they need to provide solutions might not always be at their fingertips.
In addition, they might have to deal with tight deadlines, something that might leave them working for long hours and exhausted. So what can you do about this in a bid to ensure that the team is happy and motivated?
Well, when your software development team is happy and motivated, you can be assured of having the team manage and handle everything thrown at it smoothly.
Here are a few ways to keep your software development team happy and motivated for years to come;
Understand Each of the Team Members
Imagine a situation where you are celebrating something in your company. You then think it wise to share a gift, such as ice cream with each of the team members. Even though this might be nice, it is important to note that not everyone likes ice cream.
The truth is that this might be a good gesture coming from you. However, you should spend some time understanding software development and your team members. You will not be able to motivate them if you give them things that they do not like.
If you understand each of your team members and the work that they do, you will create a working environment that works for each one of them. This will keep them happy, motivate them, and boost their productivity, something you need for your company to achieve its goals.
Reward the Team Members
Software developers, just like any other employees, need to be rewarded to get motivated. As discussed above, make sure that you understand all your software development team members before you can start rewarding them.
Some of the best awards you can use when rewarding team members are customized plaques and awards. These awards create a personalized feeling among the team members that shows them that you understand and appreciate the work that they do.
For instance, when working on an application, find a way of rewarding your team members depending on the milestones achieved. You should also look for a great award to give them after the completion of the project. This is crucial in making the team happy and motivated.
Provide Them With Growth Opportunities
A jet needs jet fuel for it to do what jets do. Developers, on the other hand, need growth opportunities for them to do what software developers do. You, therefore, need to provide your software developers with growth opportunities.
For your software developers to remain happy and motivated for years to come, you need to assure them that they will not spend the rest of their time in your company coding. Even though some of them might be happy coding, others want to grow through the ranks to managerial positions.
Apart from rewards, you can show the team that you appreciate what they do by providing them with learning opportunities. These opportunities should be tailored to meet their specific needs and help them grow their careers. This will motivate them and keep them working for you.
Implement Clear Plans and Goals
No matter the kind of work that you do, you will need to implement clear plans and goals for you to meet your expectations. Similarly, no matter the size of your software development team, you should have a clear plan to guide them in achieving the company’s goals.
There are different methodologies that you can use to create a clear path for your development team. One of the most popular methodologies is the Agile methodology. It plays a crucial role in helping teams build products through iterations.
We also have Kanban methodology that helps software development teams visualize the progress of the project they are working on. If your software development team knows the plans and goals they need to achieve, they will remain motivated and will work towards achieving those goals.
Create a Flexible Working Environment
People are different, and so are software developers. Some of them might prefer working at night while others prefer working during the day. Even though your company might implement the 9-5 schedule, some developers might not thrive in it.
Understanding your software developers also means understanding when each one of them is most productive. Doing this will help you create a flexible working environment and have each of the team members working when they are most productive.
Keeping your software development team happy and motivated for years to come is not as difficult as most people think. The strategies discussed above are easy to implement for every team manager.
