3 Ways to Foster Enthusiasm in a Software Team
Some things are inherent, and some things are learned—at least, that’s what we’re often told. You might meet people who are naturally good at grasping complex aspects of math, and it feels like no matter how long and hard you work on the same problem, you just can’t solve it.
Enthusiasm is one of those things that can’t be forced on you. If you’re not passionate about software, it’s difficult for someone to get you to the point where you wake up in the morning excited to develop a mobile application.
However, Andy Kaufman, the founder of the Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development, spoke with StickyMinds about how the conditions of your software team can change your level of enthusiasm drastically. He first broached the issue by comparing being enthusiastic or unenthusiastic with being introverted or extroverted—something he learned from author Cathy Salit.
“You get the most introverted person talking about something that they really care about with one of their best friends, they're going to act extroverted,” he explained. “I thought, ‘Isn't it brilliant in some ways?’ It's not are you in this box or that box, you're either an enthusiastic person, or a committed person, or not. What you are, is someone who's really bought into this.”
If you can help bring an introverted person out of his shell by placing him in the right situation, how can you build up someone’s enthusiasm on your software team? The first is all about getting someone in their area of expertise:
- Comfort: Put someone in a spot where they’re comfortable, know a great deal about the subject matter, and alongside people they’re comfortable around. Similar to the introverted vs. extroverted example, if you can plug a member of your team in the correct spot, he’ll feel more comfortable coming out of his shell.
- Status: As Kaufman states, “When people feel like their status is lowered, like they’re not important, they're not as engaged. When people are given responsibility, they feel like they're valued and they're listened to, that's status.” With greater status, enthusiasm for what’s going on starts to build.
- Certainty: This is a big one. If someone doesn’t know exactly what they’re supposed to be doing, where the project is going, or whether or not they’ll have a job in a month, there can’t be enthusiasm for the work. Clear and concise direction is needed to create certainty.
Fostering enthusiasm isn’t easy, but if you put people in the right spots, play to their strengths, and make them feel valued, your odds of success are infinitely higher.
