People-First Leadership: A Key to Successful Dev Teams
Discover the benefits of people-first team management and learn practical strategies for leading with empathy and prioritizing employee well-being. Improve team performance and foster a positive work culture. By Manda Frederick.
5. Lead With Empathy
Many people in tech consider themselves introverted, logical, linear, technical, etc. Along the way, in all the robot memes and Spock jokes, I think a very unfortunate subtext has surfaced: that “techy” people aren’t very sensitive or emotional — or, worse, that they aren’t very human.
Maybe you’ve heard that, too, which is what brought you to this article. But despite the stereotypes, people in tech are absolutely capable of leading with empathy, and they need empathy just as much as anyone else.
Jokes aside, programmers are not robots; they need empathy.
Jokes aside, programmers are not robots; they need empathy.
One of my favorite philosophers, Michel de Montaigne, said, “Every man carries the entire form of the human condition.” Overlooking his 16th century, non-gender neutral language, what he means is that each of us is, at our core, made of the same stuff; we feel, more or less, the same things. Maslow supports this in his hierarchy.
You’re capable of empathy simply because you are a person. And I want to reiterate now that being a person is hard. And, again, you won’t get it right many days, and neither will your team.
Some ways to be more empathic include:
- Listen without judgment: If a team member is struggling, don’t take it as personal criticism or an attack on yourself or the company. Encourage them to express themselves without getting defensive or arguing. Remember that both of you are on the same team, not only in development, but also in creating a positive and healthy work environment.
- Provide emotional support: Let your team members know that they can trust you to talk about things that bother them — or even things that make them happy. Celebrate their successes and commisserate with their struggles. Sometimes, they might not even be looking for a solution, but just a sympathetic ear.
- Show vulnerability: Be willing to share your own struggles and challenges with your team, when appropriate. This builds trust and creates a more open and supportive team culture.
- Be present: Even in a busy tech environment, setting aside regular time for each team member and dedicating yourself to them during that time is vital for making your team members feel you value them.
Remember, a lot like tech, people are in a constant state of iteration. There’s no perfection — only progress. You get to decide as a team lead if you’re willing to do the work to support your team members as they evolve.
Listen. Communicate. Lean on the benefit of the doubt. You’ll end up with a team that feels cared for, valuable and excited to contribute in a meaningful way.
Key Takeaways
- People-first management is the art of treating your team members like people first, not just tools to produce your work product.
- Putting an emphasis on your team members as people results in a more engaged, productive and satisfied team. Your output will likely improve and your turnover rates decrease.
- To implement a people-first management style, commit to a daily practice. Build people-centered KPIs into your goals. Listen actively, communicate clearly and lead with empathy.
- If something doesn’t work, iterate on the process and keep trying.
Have any questions, suggestions, or ideas about how to be a better team lead? Feel free to share them below!