Eighty-three percent of developers suffer from burnout, according to a study by Haystack Analytics.
This figure may seem steep, but it’s hardly surprising. Technology is the backbone of our modern world, and while many might not think about who’s behind the gadgets and apps they use, they’re powered by real people with real emotions.
To put things into perspective, the demand for software developers is expected to surge 25 percent by 2031, contrasted with a meager five percent for all other professions. The competition for developers is fierce, pushing companies to step up their game in recruiting and retaining talent — ensuring they remain free from burnout and primed for the next big innovation.
Recently, Built In Chicago sat down with PEAK6 Engineering Manager Leonard Schwartz II to learn more about how he keeps his team happy, healthy and hungry to press on.
PEAK6 is a holding company that builds and invests in businesses spanning from finance and insurance to esports and education — and it’s always seeking new opportunities.
Developers will inevitably face challenges in the workplace, and some might lead to burnout. What warning signs do you look for in your software developers, and what actions do you take thereafter?
Software engineers indeed face high burnout risk due to demanding workloads, tight deadlines and constant technological change. As managers, we must understand these demands and prioritize prevention over reaction.
While some engineers may push themselves excessively, it’s important to remember that such tendencies can be early indicators of burnout. Watch for warning signs like declining work quality, absenteeism, apathy, negativity and “hero ball,” or doing everything solo.
TO PREVENT ENGINEER BURNOUT, MANAGERS CAN:
- Communicate regularly with engineers to understand their challenges and capacity.
- Adjust workloads based on capacity, delegate tasks, and consider flexible arrangements.
- Promote healthy work habits by encouraging regular breaks and disconnecting after work hours.
- Regularly review internal processes and working agreements to ensure they support sustainable workloads.
By taking these proactive steps, we can foster positive, sustainable work environments, minimizing burnout and maximizing engineer engagement, productivity, efficiency and work quality.
One factor that contributes to developer burnout is observability, or checking that apps and systems are working correctly to prevent bottlenecks or bugs. How do you help developers identify issues at their source as soon as they occur, so that they're not sifting through a slog of information downstream?
Spotting problems in software can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Coupled with pressures for delivery and system up-time, issue identification can lead to developer burnout.
HELP DEVELOPERS WITH THESE 5 TIPS
- Use tools that gather info from different across the system to leverage a unified view and highlight anomalies.
- Track how requests move through the system and pinpoint exactly where things slow down or go wrong.
- Set up automatic warnings for potential issues and let developers know what needs attention.
- Encourage comments and logging statements within the code to note what’s happening.
- Remind developers to regularly check in on the system, even when things seem fine, to catch issues early on.
By making it easier to find problems, developers can spend less time searching and more time fixing, reducing stress and burnout.
What sorts of creative stretch projects or meaningful growth opportunities do you offer developers on your team?
PEAK6 empowers team members through several engaging opportunities.
We’re big on guided growth. We assign all junior developers a senior mentor whom they shadow and work with on real projects, enabling them to gain valuable decision-making and strategy knowledge.
Junior developers are also encouraged to engage with colleagues from other teams to understand the complete development lifecycle and participate in challenges to learn new skills and collaborate creatively. We offer internal talks and workshops, as well, that foster knowledge transfer and public speaking skills.
By promoting these diverse opportunities, we’re able to cater to individual interests, fostering a culture of continuous growth and engagement and resulting in a well-rounded team equipped for success.
