How Can HR Help Software Developers Manage Deadline Pressure and Boost Enthusiasm?

Dear Seniors, I am working as an HR professional in a software company. I have observed that there is a lack of enthusiasm among software developers due to the pressure of meeting deadlines. Please guide me on how to assist them and teach them ways to handle this pressure effectively. I would appreciate your suggestions on what kind of lessons I can provide to help them meet their deadlines with renewed energy.

Thank you.

I do understand your anxiety and concern for your employees and appreciate your keenness to ensure that they enjoy their work as much as they ensure they meet their deadlines. I would suggest you search for posts on employee engagement in Citehr, which will give a wide variety of options for you to explore and implement. In addition, if you think it will help them, you can also ask them to visit the following Inspirational and Motivational Blogs:

- www.actspot.wordpress.com - Daily Blog
- www.poweract.blogspot.com - Weekly Blog

Regards

Dear Ms. Kavita, you have the answer to your own query. I request you to think about what can be the best solution to help them concentrate and meet deadlines without getting frustrated. Everyone in the world can handle stress and work under extreme pressure.

Training on Positive Mental Attitude

If you possess exceptional training skills where you can succeed in making them feel exactly what you are feeling, then you can deliver training on POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE. Please study individual attitudes before delivering this module so that you can address their concerns.

I have been delivering training on WORK CULTURE to all my employees (approximately 1500) where I covered the BENEFITS OF POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE that helped them concentrate on their PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

I suggest you get trained yourself in PMA by an expert trainer and then start delivering the same to your employees once every 3 months. Please include as many examples as you can.

With profound regards.

Hi Kavitha, it is an individual's perception of pressure—some take it positively, while for others, their whole energy and enthusiasm go into beating the stress and pressure of deadlines, work, targets, competition, etc.

Suggestions for Reducing Workplace Stress

I will give you suggestions based on my experience in the organization:

- Try to bring positivity into the workplace environment. You can induce energy through color therapy; it really works. Seek help from a professional or simply search online for the impact of colors on our personality. It works... :)

- During breaks, involve them in office gossip (healthy gossip can boost morale). It can be anything that does not hurt anyone's sentiments and is not harmful.

- Introduce some stress busters, such as themed Fridays, stress-relieving activities, or contests. You can find more ideas on forums; just do some searching here...

As Shaik Abdul Khadir suggested, training in PMA is also a great idea. However, before introducing such training, I would suggest increasing their energy levels so that they approach the training willingly rather than out of compulsion.

Let's see how all this works, and then we can discuss further for more improvements.

Regards,
Archna

It is hard to find the exact time when under stress, but here is an idea that has worked at times. Find a time to allow your people to take on a creative project or a piece of a creative project to get their minds off the main project and release their creativity. This gives them some relief from the stressful work and helps to reduce the stress level. This could be a brainstorming event as long as it is quick and creative.

I am sure a lot of professionals face this problem in the office. Deadlines make you feel overwhelmed. Archana has given some nice suggestions. Deadlines will remain; you can only create some diversions of mind to cool the mind and free it from tensions.

Ways to Create a Relaxing Work Environment

- Color therapy
- Creating good lighting
- The right ambiance
- Getting some plants, aquariums
- Nice comfy ergonomic chairs
- A cheerful atmosphere

You could also try yoga, meditation, and using some light music in the lobby/rest area. Improve the quality of the cafeteria, and put a TT Table if space permits. Encourage people to have healthy juices and snacks instead of just coffee and Kurkure. All of it will work, bit by bit; you just have to keep at it.

All the best, and please do share your experience so that we too become wiser!

The answer to the problem may well lie in the minds and hearts of the employees themselves. Allowing them to express how they feel about their jobs and the work environment may be a good start. Follow up with brainstorming sessions to get ideas on how to make the workplace and the job itself exciting. Listen to everyone's point of view and to the unspoken messages. Define roles for making the atmosphere lighter and have them select leaders from amongst themselves to fill those roles. These roles can be exchanged as time goes by. It is about understanding the benefits of teamwork and not unhealthy competition; while at the same time, keeping focus on the deliverables of the unit/department. It is also very important that their efforts are recognized.

Best wishes,
KM

Hi Kavita,

I believe the "FISH Philosophy" could be the right solution for you. This philosophy is discussed in a book written by Mr. Stephen Lundin, Mr. John Christensen, and Mr. Harry Paul, addressing a similar dilemma in a corporate setting.

You may find more information and reviews at Inspired Global Indian: Fish Philosophy for Energy (link updated to site home) (Search On Cite | Search On Google)

Thanks with regards,
Vinod Kumar