Welcome back to The Modern Software Developer. In this month’s issue, I’m talking to software development leaders, new and old. I’m shining a light on the practice of trying to measure software developer productivity and the detrimental impact it might be having on your team’s wellbeing and performance.
Richard, your insights on the pitfalls of traditional productivity metrics resonate deeply. The analogy with the Marshmallow Experiment is thought-provoking, shedding light on the potential misalignment between perceived and actual measurements.
Your emphasis on sacrificing team well-being for productivity is a critical observation. The pressure-cooker environment you describe is unfortunately too familiar for many in the software development landscape. Your proposed shift in focus—from traditional metrics to team well-being—aligns with a growing understanding that a healthy and content team is more likely to yield sustainable productivity.
The Team Wellbeing Health Check you've introduced reflects a commendable effort to bridge the gap between caring for your team and achieving tangible outcomes. Your approach, combining an online questionnaire, one-on-one meetings, and continuous monitoring, presents a holistic method to assess and improve team well-being over time.
Your closing reminder about the importance of prioritizing well-being is a powerful call to action. In a world where productivity often takes precedence, your message serves as a valuable reminder that true success encompasses both productivity and the well-being of those driving it. Looking forward to more insights from The Modern Software Developer!
Richard, your insights on the pitfalls of traditional productivity metrics resonate deeply. The analogy with the Marshmallow Experiment is thought-provoking, shedding light on the potential misalignment between perceived and actual measurements.
Your emphasis on sacrificing team well-being for productivity is a critical observation. The pressure-cooker environment you describe is unfortunately too familiar for many in the software development landscape. Your proposed shift in focus—from traditional metrics to team well-being—aligns with a growing understanding that a healthy and content team is more likely to yield sustainable productivity.
The Team Wellbeing Health Check you've introduced reflects a commendable effort to bridge the gap between caring for your team and achieving tangible outcomes. Your approach, combining an online questionnaire, one-on-one meetings, and continuous monitoring, presents a holistic method to assess and improve team well-being over time.
Your closing reminder about the importance of prioritizing well-being is a powerful call to action. In a world where productivity often takes precedence, your message serves as a valuable reminder that true success encompasses both productivity and the well-being of those driving it. Looking forward to more insights from The Modern Software Developer!
Thanks for this Saad, I'm glad this article resonated 👍