How to keep developers from burning out and have a highly-productive team at the same time
For many people around the world, work is a source of stress, and developers are not immune to suffering from it. Many things can lead to stress in the IT world, from deadlines to having to shift between projects or solving unexpected problems.
According to the American Psychological Association, many factors may contribute to stress, and consequences may vary from increased tension in their bodies, “snapping” or getting angry very quickly, unexpected mood swings, or screaming or yelling at a loved one. And since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, it has only worsened.
In the workplace, stress may also appear because of a heavy workload, resulting in anxiety, anger, and fatigue. But, it is not only the developers who are affected; it can also have a financial toll on the organization.
Although many factors can contribute to a person’s stress levels, like politics, crime, or money, it is also true that managers can help reduce their employee’s stress. We will discuss some of them in the following paragraphs.
Here are 7 strategies you can implement before the developers in your team burn out. The idea is to implement them before they reach this point of no return (where the solution will be to take time off and recover).
If your team leaders learn how to estimate the time the developers need to complete a job, the number of resources necessary, and organize sprints properly for them to be demanding but achievable, you will be in control of the situation and avoid burnout, which can be a result of an overload of tasks.
A balanced developer is a happy developer. Therefore, managers should encourage work/life balance within the organization. In other words, ensure the employees have enough time for exercise, family, and self-care. You can offer flexible schedules or shut down early during holidays.
Some employees fail to use all their vacation time because they have so many responsibilities at work that they seem irreplaceable. They could also fear losing their jobs when it most likely will not happen. Verbally encourage people to take a vacation and ensure that their vacation days are not expiring or going unused.
Too much time in front of a screen can be harmful to anyone’s health. Therefore, be sure to remind everyone on your team that daily exposure to screens, not only computer monitors but also cell phones and games, can cause stress and anxiety.
Managers are among the most important factors in employee engagement and retention. A bad boss can lead to employees quitting their jobs or generating too much stress in the work environment. Therefore, you must ensure that your managers are trained and equipped to coach and develop employees as individuals and as a team.
Sometimes people get demotivated in a job if they lack opportunities for growth and advancement. Therefore, help them acquire new skills, allow them to participate more in important decisions in the projects they are part of, and consult with them frequently if there is anything else they would like to do to advance their careers.
If managers are open to receiving employees’ ideas and feedback on improving productivity and balancing workloads, it will help teamwork and improve task completion.
Also, practice open communication. Ensure employees receive timely, transparent updates and understand their work expectations and how their performance is benchmarking against goals.
As you can see, it’s not so hard to help your employees from burning out. Let them have room for growing, giving feedback, and feeling that they are being considered the people they are rather than just developers in your team.
We have many ideas for your team of developers, and we can also help you find the people you are looking for for your team. Contact us today, and we’ll find the best candidates for you.
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