One For All and All For One!

At work, every developer suffers through little slumps, and that’s normal. Motivation can’t be constant: we oscillate between moments when nothing seems to stop us, and others when even getting out of bed seems like an insurmountable task. If identifying these energy losses and rallying the troops seems to be a prerogative for tech leads, they, too, can suffer. In reality, every team member has a role to play, so team spirit and mutual aid form an incredible work dynamic that can help you overcome even the biggest obstacles!

Whether you’re a developer a tech lead, nexten.io has a few ideas you can apply to boost your morale or help out a colleague who’s losing steam.

Empty your bag

The signs that a colleague is demotivated can be sometimes brutal, sometimes subtle. If they don’t come in for coffee in the morning and chat as usual, show up for lunch, participate in meetings as enthusiastically as they used to… those may be signs that something is wrong. Regardless of their hierarchical status, if you feel that your help would be welcome, don’t hesitate to offer to have a heart-to-heart talk. Put them at ease and make it clear that they have nothing to feel guilty about, and that they need to let go and stay safe.

Often, getting out of the office and going for a walk to stretch your legs can help you gain some perspective on the situation. So, take your colleague for a walk and ask if he or she wants to talk about it. Once you feel they’re more relieved, the mission is successful! Remember to disconnect at night — and that goes for both of you. It’s important to think about other things and share fun moments with those around you to decompress — even if it means taking days off.

Share your successes

Sometimes, a plunge in motivation can come from a lack of vision or a loss of meaning in one’s missions. What better way to give yourself a little boost than to remember all the projects you’ve successfully completed and of which you are so proud? Whether you’re a tech lead or developer, if you’re experience a period of doubt, try to rediscover your real value and enjoy the successes that have marked your career.

As soon as you feel a small drop in motivation, sit down for a few minutes with yourself and reflect. Think back to the initial project, the steps you had to take with their difficulties, the results obtained, the satisfaction of your tech lead or your management, the satisfaction of the customer… And congratulate yourself for that!

 

NB: this little exercise works as much for yourself as it does for others, so don’t hesitate to apply it on a daily basis with your team members!

Solve problems

Lower motivation can also be the result of a problem encountered at a given time. And even if you don’t have a magic wand, there is a good chance that by getting together with others, you will have a better chance of finding an adequate solution to the situation. Whether you are a manager or a manager, don’t hesitate to suggest to colleagues who seem to be lost that they take the bull by the horns, together.

 

Sit down together and ask him or her to explain the situation, the difficulties encountered, the obstacles to be overcome, and what ways might exist for dealing with it properly. Bear in mind that your colleague knows the situation better than you, and armed with tact, express your thoughts and ask him or her to keep you informed of how the situation evolves. Remember: alone we go faster, together we go further.

Another tip: for a boost, there’s nothing like working on a slightly simpler task to restore confidence before going back to work on the initial project!

Dealing with sluggishness at work is not an easy task. Yet whether you’re a tech lead or a dev, it’s a phenomenon that affects us all. Keep this in mind: there’s no need to feel too guilty about it. We’re all only humans! However, if you feel that your motivation has remained at half-mast for weeks on end, it might be time to ask yourself some questions: are you happy in your role? Maybe you need to look for new horizons and find a new professional challenge. nexten.io can help you with that!