Managing the relationship with your developer is vital to ensure that your website does not fall by the wayside. Here are some tips on getting the most out of your developer.
It is important to remember that managing a developer is exactly the same as managing any other employee. The trick is helping them to solve business and technical problems and keeping them motivated.
At the same time, programmers are often considered a “different” type of employee. They are fundamentally creative people, who can see the big picture but then – in a heartbeat – switch to focusing on tiny details.
What is the secret to managing the relationship with your developer?
1. Listen to them
Developers are often not the most talkative type – so when they have something to say, listen to them. Ignoring their technical opinions is a recipe for failure, as they are specialists: they know what they’re talking about.
As their manager, listen to them and show that you value their opinions. It’s their job to know the ins and outs of technical issues, so it would be foolish not to follow their advice.
2. Don’t ignore their requests
In-house developers often only need a computer and a couple monitors to get their job done. If he wants another monitor, just give it to him. Or if he want a solid-state drive, find a way to make it happen.
Trying to save money on the things that are essential for a programmer to do his job is bad logic. Programmers don’t typically spend a lot of a company’s money (while still playing a key role), so the last thing you want to do is to save on their tools.
3. Admit they know better than you
Most ecommerce professionals are not as technically gifted as developers. If you belong to this group, do not try and impress your developer with technical skills – they will smell a fake from miles away! Just admit that your technical skills are not on the same level and let them make the decisions on technical issues.
4. Keep them motivated
If your developer needs to meet an important deadline, you also need to work their long hours. Even if you’re not doing the same work, you need to be there to support the team. If the developer is worried about meeting a project deadline, take something else off their plate. It is about prioritising their work effectively in order to reduce their stress.
5. Nip problems in the bud
Likewise, try to nip problems in the bud. If your development team is in danger of missing a deadline, you should see it coming. The key here is communication. When there is a problem on the horizon, what will you do about it? Work out how to react and manage problems. If it’s your mistake, be honest and admit it.
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