Don’t bring a knife to the fight for talent
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It’s amazing what you can learn if you are willing to really listen to people. Take software developers for example, they will tell you what matters to them.
I’m trying to build great teams and keep them together for the long run. One the keys to success is going to be using my ears and not just my mind. What they actually value is more important than what I imagine they should value.
OfferZen surveyed 4,000 South African software developers in 2019. I’ve been thinking a lot about the resulting report.
They aren’t asking for the world. The report highlights that developers want:
Money
Flexible hours
Remote work
Healthy culture
Growth opportunities
Two themes immediately jump out at me:
AUTONOMY
MASTERY
If only someone would write a book about these. Oh wait, Daniel Pink already did that in 2009. In “Drive”, he argues that our motivation is mostly intrinsic and can be divided into autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
The fight for talent is real and fierce. But you can win if you remember it’s a gun fight. Just don’t bring a knife.
Autonomy and mastery are guns. Old school extrinsic motivators are knives. Relying on money is dangerous. Carrots and sticks won’t get us there. We need to read the books. Study the surveys. And importantly: Really listen.
OfferZen surveyed 4,000 South African software developers in 2019. I’ve been thinking a lot about the resulting report.
They aren’t asking for the world. The report highlights that developers want:
Money
Flexible hours
Remote work
Healthy culture
Growth opportunities
Two themes immediately jump out at me:
AUTONOMY
MASTERY
If only someone would write a book about these. Oh wait, Daniel Pink already did that in 2009. In “Drive”, he argues that our motivation is mostly intrinsic and can be divided into autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
The fight for talent is real and fierce. But you can win if you remember it’s a gun fight. Just don’t bring a knife.
Autonomy and mastery are guns. Old school extrinsic motivators are knives. Relying on money is dangerous. Carrots and sticks won’t get us there. We need to read the books. Study the surveys. And importantly: Really listen.