Introduction
Most IT professionals almost entirely measure their success by the number of technical skills and technical certifications they have in their field. I believe this is the case because our career is so technology-focused that we often get lost in what the latest trend is in our field. This is understandable because the IT field is changing so rapidly, that we don’t have the time to keep up with the latest trends half the time. Technical skills or sometimes referred to as hard skills tend to be more concrete and are also easier to measure.
Soft skills are more abstract and are typical traits you have developed based on your environment, your beliefs, and personality traits. The great thing about soft skills is like hard skills, they can be learned through repetition and habit.
Let’s take a look at them.
Communication (Writing & Speaking)
Being able to effectively communicate ideas and thoughts is very important in any profession. People judge you not only on your appearance but how you speak to gauge your intelligence even if they aren’t consciously doing it.
If you are interested in becoming a manager, consultant, or in technical sales these are must-have skills.
Your vocabulary and your ability to present your ideas and thoughts with peers, managers, customers, and lines of business might be the most valuable skill.
Time Management
The ability to manage your time and be more productive is another important soft skill. Everyone has the same number of hours in a day. What separates the successful from everyone else is not just the number of tasks, but the number of high-priority tasks they accomplish in a day.
This habit over time (no matter how small) will start showing dividends. As you move up in your career the demands on you will increase and being able to effectively manage time will become key to your success.
This is called working smarter and not longer. Being able to prioritize and execute what you need to get done will put you in control.
Networking (Your Reputation)
I learned quickly how small the IT world was early in my career. It amazed me how many people seemed to know each other.
Over time, I started to build a sizable professional network and it wasn’t that unusual for me to run into a professional connection at almost every conference I attended.
The lesson here is “don’t burn bridges”. People in our industry talk and it is important to have a great reputation because it will follow you.
Building a professional network won’t happen overnight but start collecting business cards and connecting with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn.
If you are an introvert then start going to conferences or local meetups. This will take you out of your comfort zones but being uncomfortable is a good thing. It means you are pushing your boundaries and you are growing.
My last several jobs came through my professional network and not through a job posting or a recruiter.
You can also use platforms like Twitter to follow and connect with people online. Share your expertise and build an audience.
Conclusion
Soft Skills have a lot of benefits for IT professionals and are arguably just as important as hard skills (if not more important). Hard skills alone won’t get you into the top 1% in the IT Industry. You need a solid foundation of soft skills because they can help you become more well-rounded as an IT professional.
I challenge you to start making soft skills a priority in your overall development plan. Pick one and start making a plan on how to improve. Add it to your to-do list or calendar and start integrating it into your life.
