Without developers, there can be no open source development. This fact, plain and simple is why it is so important to have good developers on your team.
But it’s not enough to just have skilled developers. You need to have motivated ones as well. Motivation is what brings out the best work in people. Sure, most developers are motivated enough when they start contributing to projects, but this eagerness can wear off in the long run. To keep project development going strong, it helps to always keep your team motivated.
So how can you motivate your team?
Offer Opportunities for Growth
Most open source developers aren’t very concerned with monetary compensation (from the project), but they do value new information and skills gained. New learnings and experiences serve as a form of compensation for the time and energy that they invest in the project. If they do not achieve any significant growth working on a project, they can become discouraged and discontinue.
Make sure team members are always poised for growth and improvement by providing learning opportunities like workshops, trainings and conferences. These not only benefit the team members but also the project itself when the learnings are applied here.
Give Them a Voice in the Project
When people feel that their opinions and ideas matter in a project, they become more motivated to work on it. So make sure you listen to your team members and consider their input when planning changes or improvements.
Provide the Tools and Technology They Need
Free lunches and other such treats may be good for team rapport, but they won’t necessarily motivate developers to write great code. With the latest technology and tools however, developers will be more eager to work on new releases and other developments.
Recognize Their Accomplishments
Sometimes all it takes to motivate someone is to have their accomplishments recognized. Make sure that you recognize your team’s achievements publicly, so everyone can know about it.
Give Them “Space”
No one likes being watched like a hawk while they work. Give your team the space they need to work freely, and also don’t take up too much of their time on meetings. While it may be good to communicate often, it’s counterproductive if it will only take up time that can otherwise be used for actual work.
View Them as Community Members First
They may be working for you or under you, but your team members are first and foremost community members. They are more than just their contributions, so make sure you value them as such. Be considerate of their personal needs and priorities, and treat them with kindness and respect. Remember that it is partly because of their efforts and assistance that your project has come as far as it has.
Beer and wings always works best…once a week.
Great tips for having motivated developers on your team.