Why Your Dev Team's Morale Matters: The Surprising Impact on Developer Productivity
Published: 2023-02-14 17:07:12

This blog post was originally published on [Ace blog](https://blog.getace.io/)


Have you noticed that your software developers seem less productive and less motivated than they used to be? If so, you're not alone. Low morale is a silent killer that's affecting tech teams everywhere, and it's having a devastating impact on developer productivity and company growth.

In recent years, the software development industry has experienced a shift in focus towards creating positive work environments for developers. However, despite this shift, many tech teams still suffer from low morale. 

In this blog post, we'll explore 

- the impact of morale on tech teams
- the costs of low morale on company growth
- the importance of leadership in addressing the issue

## The impact of morale on dev team performance and motivation

As a tech leader, you may have heard the saying, “Happy employees are productive employees”. But have you ever stopped to consider just how true this statement is for your tech team?

Let’s start with defining the terms and find out what team morale is. 

### Team morale definition

Team morale refers to the overall psychological and emotional well-being and attitudes of a team towards their work, their colleagues, and the organization they work for.

In the tech industry, where creativity and innovation are essential, low morale can have a significant impact on a dev team's performance. A study by the Association for Computing Machinery found that low morale in software development teams can lead to decreased collaboration, decreased job satisfaction, and decreased creativity. 

Let’s consider how team morale correlates with developer productivity in detail. 

### How low morale affects individual productivity

According to a study by [Deloitte](https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjOu4Xm6IH9AhW1La0GHc4XC3cYABAAGgJwdg&sig=AOD64_12IYxBlVzAzs6_qP2UDg247gQioQ&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwj7w__l6IH9AhV_C0QIHc7bCywQ0Qx6BAgFEAE), 85% of employees who are disengaged from their work say they don't feel motivated to do their best work.

Decreased motivation and engagement can result in lower quality work, missed deadlines, and reduced creativity. When employees are feeling demotivated, they are less likely to take initiative, seek out new challenges, or be proactive in finding solutions to problems.

### How low morale affects the productivity of the entire dev team

Low morale in one team member can spread to others, leading to a toxic work environment and decreased collaboration. 

A team with low morale may struggle to communicate effectively, leading to a lack of trust between team members and a breakdown in the collaboration process. This can lead to:

- Decreased creativity and innovation
- Lack of focus and attention to detail
- Longer time to complete tasks
- Decreased ability to work together effectively
- Lack of trust and communication between team members
- Reduced motivation to participate in team projects and initiatives
- A decrease in overall team performance

Dev teams need to be able to work together to develop, design, and implement software and technology solutions. Effective collaboration is critical for successful project management and ensuring that goals and deadlines are met.

So, the problem of low morale is not just a minor inconvenience, it's affecting the bottom line. Low morale affects not only dev productivity but also overall company growth as a result. 

## The costs of low morale on company growth

The problems of low team morale and slow and error-prone deployments have been widely recognized and discussed within the tech community. Experienced engineering leaders have commented on the issue, with some stating that it's one of the biggest challenges facing development teams today.

"When a development team lacks motivation and morale, it can greatly impact the quality of work they produce. In my experience, it can lead to a decrease in productivity, and even result in a drop in revenue." - Kent Beck, Founder of Extreme Programming.

Here are the numbers that leadership should definitely pay attention to: 

- A recent study by the Association for Computing Machinery found that dev teams with low morale and low levels of motivation were less likely to deliver projects on time and within budget.
- Furthermore, the study found that these teams were less likely to adopt new technologies and were more likely to experience high levels of staff turnover.
- The impact of slow and error-prone deployments due to decreased dev team productivity can result in a loss of $9,000 per minute.

That’s why it’s important to address the low morale issue, not only for the benefit of the dev team members but for the success of the company as a whole.

## How engineering managers can boost developers morale?

As a leader, you play a crucial role in addressing the issue of low morale in your dev team. A positive workplace culture starts at the top, and leaders can set the tone for the rest of the team. By creating a positive and supportive environment, leaders can help improve dev team morale and increase productivity.

There are several strategies to boost employee morale, including:

- **Improving communication and recognition:** By regularly communicating with dev team members during regular team meetings and acknowledging their contributions with feedback, management can help to build a positive workplace culture and increase morale.
- **Creating a positive workplace culture:** This can be achieved by promoting a supportive and inclusive environment, offering opportunities for professional development, and encouraging team-building activities.
- **Providing support and resources**: Offering support during regular 1-on-1s and providing resources to dev team members, such as flexible work schedules and access to mental health resources, can help to reduce stress and increase morale.


## Conclusion

Dev team morale is critical to the success of your business. It can lead to decreased motivation, increased turnover, and decreased efficiency, all of which can impact your company's growth. 

As a leader, you play a crucial role in improving dev team morale and should prioritize this issue. By creating a positive workplace culture, communicating regularly with your team, and offering opportunities for growth, you can help improve dev team morale and increase productivity.

Remember, happy and motivated employees lead to a more productive and successful tech team. Invest in your dev team's morale, and you'll see the benefits in the growth of your business.


This blog post was originally published on [Ace blog](https://blog.getace.io/)