“People are the company’s most valuable asset.” This sentence became a cliche, and unfortunately, it is hardly a positive one. Employees often chant it sarcastically whenever company management does something that directly contradicts this sentiment.

Unlike in larger companies, where a sub-optimal setup and its consequences can slip through the cracks and not do immediate damage because of the momentum and the sheer size/capital of the organization, in SMBs, you must make sure that every employee is fully set up for success so they can do their best job—propelling your business further.

Developer empowerment is about more than just giving your team the tools they need; it involves creating a culture of ownership, encouraging continuous learning, and providing growth opportunities. When developers feel empowered, they are more likely to take initiative, solve problems creatively, and contribute to the project’s overall success.

The most efficient SMBs I spoke with while researching the topic is that they try to leave nothing to chance regarding their engineer’s empowerment and growth. They all have a game plan for supporting their employees to realize their full potential. Based on those learnings, after aggregating all the data, I came up with “Developer Empowerment and Enablement Framework,” or DEEF for short.

In Figure 3.0.1, you can see the four pillars of DEEF—autonomy and Ownership, Tools and Resources, Learning and Development, and finally, supporting developers in areas not directly connected to your company but just as important—empowering developers to write, speak, and network.

• Autonomy and Ownership Empowering developers starts with giving them autonomy and ownership over their work. This means trusting them to make decisions and take responsibility for their projects. Creating a culture of ownership involves clear communication of goals, regular feedback, and recognizing individual contributions.
• Tools and Resources Providing the right tools and resources is a must for enabling your developers to work efficiently. This includes access to the latest development environments, software, and hardware, as well as the necessary support to use these tools effectively. How to know the best tools developers in your company need? Ask them!
• Learning and Development Continuous learning and professional development are non-negotiable for keeping your team up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices. Encourage the developers to pursue learning opportunities, whether through online courses, workshops, or conferences. Providing time and resources for learning fosters a growth mindset and helps your team stay competitive in the fast-evolving tech landscape.
• Writing, Speaking, and Networking Supporting developers in areas not directly connected to their daily work, such as writing, speaking, and networking, is also vital. Encourage them to write blog posts, contribute to open-source projects, and speak at industry events. These activities help them build their personal brands, expand their professional networks, and bring new insights and ideas (and likeminded referrals when you’ll be expanding your team!) back to your company.

Implementing DEEF in Your Organization

While detailed steps to implement DEEF in your organization are beyond the scope of this article, here are generalized guidelines to approach its implementation:

• Conduct Regular Check-Ins: Regularly meet with developers to discuss their progress, challenges, and career goals. These check-ins provide an opportunity to offer support, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments to your empowerment strategies.
• Provide Access to Learning Resources: Ensure that your team has access to a variety of learning resources, such as online courses, industry publications, and professional networks. Allocate a budget for professional development and encourage developers to take advantage of these opportunities.
• Encourage Knowledge Sharing: Foster a culture of knowledge sharing by organizing internal workshops, hackathons, and lunch-and-learn sessions. Encourage developers to share their expertise and learn from each other.
• Recognize and Reward Contributions: Acknowledge the hard work and achievements of your developers through recognition programs and other incentives. Celebrating successes reinforces a sense of ownership and motivates your team to continue performing at a high level.

Developer Empowerment and Enablement Framework (DEEF) is a significant topic. I hope that after reading this article you have a general idea about its importance and the steps you can take to help developers in your organization have everything they need to excel.

I’m working hard on compiling detailed and actionable steps you can follow and use in your organization in my upcoming book, Efficient Software Development for SMBs, which will be released on November 1st, 2024!