Become an Effective Software Engineering Manager

What Motivates People?

Before we start thinking in depth about strategies to ensure that our staff are challenged, happy, and motivated, let’s zoom out and consider the subject at a human level. What is it to be human and what is it to be happy? After all, we’ve likely heard stories and seen examples of humans all over the world that are at varying—often contradictory—levels of happiness. We’ve probably seen how often seemingly successful actors and musicians, who society looks at as models of creative and financial success, end up facing bankruptcy or rehab (or both). Likewise, we may have read of monks in Tibet who own no physical possessions other than the robe that they wear, and spend hours a day sitting in silence, reporting that they ...