Fine tune ur process over time:
- Try to find out where the bottlenecks are
- Try to make development more professional and hence less risky. This will make most of ur team feel comfortable and be more productive. For my self, I feel more productive in a fast-paced environment where every thing is well taken care of. Distraction is the most killing thing for me. And most developers will be motivated when they feel they are doing their job well, and feel they are improving.
Do not divide and conquer:
- This will have a good percentage of overhead for every one to think about how to improve their image for the management rather than how to improve their actual work.
- Try to listen to every one: this will make them feel they are part of the decision, and they have to be responsible enough for it
Career path:
- This is quite challenging, but at least it must not be left vague. People should know where they will be few years later
Technology:
- Try to have an investigation tasks plan along with the ordinary (and yet productive) development tasks. When people know they are staying ahead and they are exposed to the latest technology, it will help them feel comfortable and feel that they are really gaining experience. And in the same time it will make them more productive and motivated
Time estimation:
- This is also challenging, but when people are given fair(doable without working 14 hrs/day including weekends :)) time estimates for their tasks, they will mostly be relaxed and comfortable knowing that they will finish on time. It will also motivate them by realizing they are good enough to finish what they do on time.
Listen:
- Listen to their personal problems, if they are willing to talk about it. Try to do some steps to solve it if u can, and try to avoid just giving them advices. This will tremendously boost their spirit
Avoid temporary satisfaction:
I mean here a work around that not actually solve a problem, but just compensate it. For example:
- A raise in return of continuous long working hours. The real solution will be better project/resource management
Evaluation:
A concise and well defined evaluation scheme will motivate people to perform. Examples are:
- Periodical awards (even if not financial), eg. : employee of the month,...
- Dividing the financial compensation into a fixed and a variable part according to evaluation