Supporting humans behind the software
October 10 is World Mental Health Day – and in the world of digital teams and custom software, it’s more relevant than ever.
Code doesn’t ship itself. Behind every sprint, user story and API call, there are real people. When those people are burned out, isolated or unsupported, the tech suffers too.
Conn3cted believes that building great software starts with building resilient, healthy teams. Whether you’re leading a distributed engineering crew, managing product remotely, or running a startup across three time zones, these five wellness practices have helped us thrive – and they can work for you too.
1. Prioritise real conversations, not just real-time messaging
Remote digital teams thrive on async tools – but mental health starts with sync moments that matter.
Our work culture makes space for honest, check-in conversations. Not just “How’s the ticket going?” but “How are you going?”
Human-centric teams deliver better outcomes, but only when the humans are genuinely supported.
TIP: Build emotional check-ins into standups and retros. Don’t wait for someone to break.
2. Build boundaries into your digital workflows
In digital product teams, flexibility is key, especially when a release goes live on a Sunday or a client request drops late on a Friday. But “flexible” shouldn’t mean always available.
We at Conn3cted understand that sometimes shipping software means working odd hours. What matters is that it’s balanced: if someone works a weekend deployment, they take time back. If we push hard for a deadline, we recover with breathing space.
TIP: Set clear expectations around availability, recovery time and post-release support. Flexibility works both ways.
3. Don’t let async = silent
Async-first is great for deep work, but over time, it can leave your team feeling isolated. Conn3cted’s work environment balances tools like Jira with intentional moments of connection.
- Quick debrief calls over complex comment threads
- Virtual coffee chats between teams
- Celebrating wins in the open
TIP: Use async for productivity. Use real conversations for connection.
4. Use standups as human moments, not micromanagement
In digital delivery, it’s easy for standups to slip into nothing more than checklists. Tasks get ticked off, blockers noted and the meeting moves on. But that approach misses something crucial – the humans doing the work.
Conn3cted standups serve a different purpose. They’re not just about “What’s on the board?” but also “What’s on your mind?” Because “How’s the sprint?” and “How’s the person behind the sprint?” carry equal weight.
By treating both as important, standups become more than status updates, they become moments of connection, where support, empathy and collaboration can actually take root.
TIP: Add one wellbeing question to your daily standup. Culture is built in repetition, not posters.
5. Celebrate the humans, not just the hustle
TIP: Performance and wellbeing aren’t at odds. Sustainable delivery starts with support.
Velocity doesn’t matter if your team is exhausted. That’s why we celebrate progress and people. If someone’s delivered big, we call it out. If someone’s struggling, we back them up.
Sometimes the healthiest thing a digital team can do is cancel a meeting and let everyone breathe.
Behind every great product is a team of supported, empowered people.
This World Mental Health Day, let’s build digital cultures that prioritise wellness as much as they prioritise performance.