Hmmm. I have an idea for a startup...<p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Petrainer-PET998DBB2-Waterproof-Rechargeable-Training/dp/B00W6ZHZMI/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1476296776&sr=1-3" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Petrainer-PET998DBB2-Waterproof-Recha...</a><p>Pitch video:<p><a href="https://youtu.be/GtmYDESEwXs?t=14" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/GtmYDESEwXs?t=14</a>
Instead of a focus on motivating employees, it seems like there should be a focus on not <i>demotivating</i> them. I don't think an employer can or should try to be a therapist for employees by trying to help them find purpose. Throwing a bunch of HR tools at a team of developers is a sure-fire way of getting eye rolling and complaints about upper management wasting developers' time.<p>Pay your developers well, don't treat them like children, give the technology leaders the respect to make technology decisions, and don't put them in a toxic environment. Be active in getting constant face-to-face feedback and actually listen and be willing to admit faults as an employer.
As an employee, I am always extremely cautious when I'm surveyed about my employment. At the end of the day, the only thing these surveys do is tell the employer if I'm worth keeping around or not. If I indicate anything other than 10/10 on these surveys, I will get put on a performance improvement plan, which is the first step to getting fired.