People who deliver technology are different from other employees in many ways. The nature of their work is often ambiguous and less clear cut than other jobs. Technology people are usually not motivated by the same things that other employees are and are often more dedicated to the technology than the company.

1. Compensate your staff with both money and recognition. Technical people want to feel appreciated and useful. Praise them publicly and give them credit for their accomplishments. Make sure their salaries are competitive, especially at senior levels.

2. Let your staff choose their own projects, explore new technology and figure out how to apply it. Give them a chance to come up with creative ideas. Let them control how projects are implemented. Assign tasks by interest, not just skills.

3. Give them a chance to organize things their own way and figure out how to do things, unless regulated controls are already in place.

4. Budget for the tools and technology needed to do the job. Working with outmoded technology and not having the necessary tools done is a major frustration for tech staff. Provide access to software and network resources. Give your tech staff workstations with fast processing and memory capability.

5. Find the right balance of working independently and as part of a group. Depending on the project, team members can help to motivate each other and should work in an environment where they can collaborate. Some technical people do better at figuring out problems in their own time and space. Allow them some freedom to work from home or during non-standard work hours.

6. Motivate your staff with free food, t-shirts and technical gadgets.

7. Define tasks and goals clearly. In technical work, the end result is often unclear. Give your staff complete information to produce the results you're looking for.