3 things that destroy developer productivity
If you’ve been reading the PlayBook then you know how much we value productivity. And we are not the only ones. From CEOs to team leaders, project managers and professionals, they all value productivity. This is why you clicked on this article and why you also constantly try to figure out ways to stay focused while working on a project. But, to “cure” the unproductive attitude you first need to get to the root of the problem and understand what is causing it.
Today, we are going to showcase 4 things that prevent developers from getting “into the zone” and staying there for as long as it takes. Of course, these trigger points are not exclusive to developers and may apply to other crafts as well.
1. Never-ending meetings.
Meetings are necessary, but not all the time. We all have been to meetings where we sat there for an hour only to realise that all things discussed could easily be put in an email.
Also, meetings are planned interruptions. People cannot focus on what they are doing and get into the zone because they know that they will soon have to stop and join a meeting. Eliminate meetings and when they are necessary just plan them smartly so that they don’t account for interruptions.
2. Micromanagement and lack of trust.
Development is a craft. And like artists, developers need to feel free to create. Micromanagement shows lack of trust and results in loss of motivation. And we all know that motivation is that spark that creates great results!
3. Playing detective.
Having a clear picture of what you have to do and why is the number one thing in staying productive and doing work fast. Requests like “Fix homepage bug” are very vague and will result in loss of time, frustration and probably not the right result, as the developer will start fixing a problem they think exist but don’t know for sure.
All in all, a happy developer is a productive developer!
If you are a developer, perhaps you need to find ways to prevent these things from happening. On the other hand, if you are a team leader or manager you need to understand what is causing your team members to slow down and consider changing your way of working with them.
