Your organization is stuck in a rut. Employee performance is at an all-time low, and you’re racking your brains for ways to breathe life back into the office. Do they need recognition? More time away from the daily grind? A quick break to rest and recharge? How on earth do you motivate a development team?
Here are a few simple ways that are sure to bring about some change!
Buy Lunch
A lot of employees would be lying if they said that lunch wasn't the highlight of their day. Offering much-needed time to rest and recharge, having a good lunch is a crucial aspect of the workday. This is especially important if your employees are prone to skipping breakfast.
A great way to help motivate your development team is to provide them with the fuel they need to make it through the rest of the day: an office lunch, provided and paid for by the company.
Go To Happy Hour
In Japan, many companies have mandatory happy hour after work. This routine is meant to create a sense of camaraderie between co-workers.
Make it a habit of getting together with your employees at least once a week. Connect with your team on a deeper level, and you'll find that the relationship strengthens at the office as well.
Give Recognition
“Employee of The Month” may be a thing of the past, but giving recognition is still a critical component to employee satisfaction. Say you have a rockin’ Pythonista on your team who found an elegant solution to a development issue you’ve been battling for weeks. In addition to a well-deserved “thank you,” why not surprise them with a fun Python T-shirt? Here at Nerdlettering, we have dozens of designs for you to choose from to give your team member the recognition they deserve.
Members of your organization want to know that their hard work and effort is seen and appreciated. So, take every chance you can get to let them know how grateful you are to have them on your team!
Be Flexible
“Work-Life Balance” is a top priority for anyone working in today’s economy. Employees are more likely to be motivated and productive in a workplace that encourages flexibility.
It might be difficult at first, but if your organization is known for being a bit rigid, see if there aren't opportunities for you to introduce more flexibility. For instance, you might start offering “summer hours.” From June thru September, employees work an extra hour Monday thru Thursday and can leave early on Friday to enjoy the extra daylight with their loved ones. Such a perk would be sure to motivate your team to stay on task during the week, knowing they’ll be rewarded for it with an early weekend!
Encourage Their Dreams
It might seem counter-intuitive to allow your team to work on non-company projects during work hours. On the contrary, giving your workers even an hour a week to pursue their dream could provide them with renewed focus for your organization. Several tech giants have policies that allow their employees to contribute to “passion projects” during the workweek. Who knows: their passion could turn into an amazing, never-before-seen innovation, and your company could be the first to capitalize on it!
Pay For Conferences
It’s vital to stay on top of changes in industry, especially in the world of tech. One way to keep on the leading edge is by attending conferences where amazing new advancements are being revealed all the time.
Offer members of your team an all-expense paid trip to a tech conference. Even if you can only send two or three employees a year, the possibility alone could do wonders for their motivation.
Integrate New Technologies
People want to grow, develop and improve themselves in their personal and professional lives. Technology changes at a rapid pace. Get your team’s gears spinning by integrating new technologies into the workplace.
Ask your employees what they see on the cutting edge that they think would propel your organization forward. Listen closely and follow through on what you hear. Your team will respond positively when they know their suggestions are taken seriously.
Gift The Team
If you’re looking for a simple way to motivate your entire team, then you can’t go wrong with a thoughtful gift. Whether it’s for a holiday, employee appreciation, or just time to do something nice, a gift that says “Thanks For All Your Hard Work!” can boost your team’s morale.
Here at Nerdlettering, we have dozens of gift ideas for anyone looking to say thank you to a rockstar Python development team. From coffee and tea mugs to laptop stickers and more, your team will be grateful for the appreciation you show them with these simple, geeky gifts!