What motivates geeks?
I came across this article tonight while reviewing some other blogs I frequent and it REALLY spoke to me. This author has hit every point right on the head. The full article (along with exposition) is right here.
The main points are, though:
- Geeks are curious. Let them feed their desire to learn things.
- Geeks like to be self-sustaining. Let them figure things out on their own.
- Geeks are creative even if they don't know it. Give them a chance.
- Geeks need tools, good ones. Give them more than they need.
- Private, yet collaborative. Geeks need to be left alone, but not too alone.
- Free stuff. T-shirts, food, desktop widgets, whatever.
- Control
- Geeks need recognition.
- Freedom.
- Compensation - Saved this for last, but geeks gotta live too.
Also, for the inverse of that - I've found a few interesting postings about de-motivating geeks, but the one I found that I eventually passed onto management at my company resides here.
I also found an interesting cartoon that made me smile:
