Do you remember the day you stepped into the tech world? Must’ve felt jitters. You would’ve been nervous but excited to make it big. Like any other profession, the world of tech brings along a series of ups and downs that eventually mark the success of developers and IT experts. 

Everyone wants to excel in their profession but is it that easy? 

Your success comes at a price- A price that you with your hard work and dedication towards work. As a professional, you’ll receive abundant tricks and tips from your seniors to survive in this competitive industry. But not all of them would suggest you focus on the “Art of Soft Skils.” The most underrated set of skills that determines your success in any field. A survey conducted by LinkedIn revealed that 57% of senior leaders consider soft skills more important than technical skills. 

Let’s dive into the science of soft skills and find out how they help tech professionals lead the road to success.

The Need for Soft Skills in Tech Industry

Skills and talent aren’t the only things needed to excel in any industry, be it Tech, Medicine, or Engineering. As valuable as the combo is, both skills and talent hold no significance if they’re not used wisely. 

The perception of soft skills is widely misunderstood. What people view as unnecessary, is a combination of “social skills, communication skills, emotional intelligence and personality traits” that prove helpful in our daily interactions. 

Do you know what’s the best part about soft skills? They can be taught! They aren’t inherited and people from all backgrounds can ACQUIRE them with time. So if someone ridicules you for not having the confidence to present yourself during a meeting, don’t feel bad, because you can always learn the art of presentation and boost your confidence by developing soft skills. 

Here’s an example:

Imagine two individuals in the tech industry, Alex and Ben, who possess different skill sets. Alex has exceptional hard skills, such as coding, programming, and technical expertise, but needs strong soft skills. On the other hand, Ben possesses solid hard skills along with well-developed soft skills, including communication, teamwork, and adaptability.

As their careers progress, Alex's technical prowess allows them to excel at individual tasks and solve complex technical problems efficiently. However, their lack of effective communication and collaboration skills hinders their ability to work effectively in teams, understand client's needs, and explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

On the contrary, Ben's combination of hard and soft skills propels them to greater heights. While their technical expertise enables them to produce high-quality work, their exceptional communication skills help them articulate ideas, build rapport with team members, and engage in effective cross-functional collaboration. Ben's adaptability and openness to learning allow them to quickly grasp new technologies, navigate changes in the industry, and continuously upskill themselves.

As time goes on, both Alex and Ben are given the opportunity to lead a critical project that requires not only technical competence but also effective leadership and teamwork. Alex struggles to communicate project objectives to the team, delegate tasks, and manage conflicts, resulting in misalignment, decreased morale, and missed deadlines. The project suffers setbacks, and Alex's leadership is questioned.

Meanwhile, Ben thrives in their leadership role. Their strong soft skills enable them to inspire and motivate team members, foster effective communication, resolve conflicts, and manage stakeholders' expectations. Ben's ability to collaborate and listen to diverse perspectives helps them build a high-performing team and create an inclusive and supportive work environment. As a result, the project progresses smoothly, team members are engaged and productive, and the project is delivered successfully within the allocated timeframe.

Over time, Ben's reputation grows as a reliable, effective, and respected professional within the tech industry. They are sought after for key projects, receive recommendations from colleagues and clients, and are offered leadership positions. On the other hand, despite Alex's exceptional technical abilities, their limited soft skills prevent them from reaching their full potential. They struggle to secure leadership roles, face challenges in teamwork and client interactions, and miss out on career advancement opportunities.

This example demonstrates how an individual with a balanced combination of hard and soft skills, like Ben, can achieve greater success in the tech industry compared to someone who solely relies on hard skills, like Alex. While hard skills are necessary for technical proficiency, it is the soft skills that enable professionals to effectively communicate, collaborate, lead, and adapt in the ever-evolving tech landscape, ultimately propelling their careers to new heights.

Hard Skills vs Soft Skills

Hard skills only help you reach the bottom line of the business. Not that we’re negating their importance, but professionals must learn advanced techniques and methods to yield measurable results.

But soft skills are the key to leaving an impact in a working environment on your clients and competitors. Be it small talk, empathy, or flexibility, soft skills cover all domains that help a tech professional survive in a competitive environment without losing his stature. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, individuals with high emotional intelligence (a key soft skill) tend to have better job performance, higher job satisfaction, and lower turnover rates. This demonstrates the direct correlation between emotional intelligence and professional success in the tech industry. 

Hard skills will indefinitely get you a job but you need soft skills to pursue the career in a direct direction without stumbling.

Tips for a Tech Professional Acquiring Soft Skills

Are you working in a software house, IT company, or freelancer? If yes then this information will help you climb the ladder of success. Here are some tips and tricks for those learning soft skills! 

• Learn the art of using the right soft skill at the right time.
• Communicate with your peers as much as you communicate with your computer. 
• Train yourself to critique things and analyse them to think out of the box and solve problems.
• Empathise with people. It’ll help you understand and resolve issues 
• Stay organized to be efficient and productive 
• Always be open to feedback and accept your mistakes 
• Learn to grow; don’t stick to one skill set rather get out of your comfort zone

How can Developers Learn Soft Skills?

Here are the Top 5 ways developers can learn soft skills that won’t cost them a kidney! 

1. Online Resources: 

Utilize free or affordable platforms like YouTube, Udemy, and Coursera for soft skills courses.

2. Read Books and Blogs: 

Explore expert-written books and blogs on topics such as communication, leadership, and teamwork.

3. Seek Feedback: 

Actively request constructive criticism from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors to improve your soft skills.

4. Join Communities: 

Engage in developer communities and forums to learn from experienced professionals and participate in discussions.

5. Practice Active Listening: 

Enhance your listening skills by actively engaging in conversations, summarizing, asking clarifying questions, and empathizing with others.

Voicing Out the Fear of Every Developer Out There!

1. Resistance to Change:

Developers may be comfortable focusing solely on technical skills and may resist stepping outside their comfort zones. Overcome this by emphasizing the relevance and impact of soft skills in their professional growth. Highlight how soft skills complement technical expertise and contribute to overall success.

2. Fear of Rejection or Failure:

Developing soft skills often involves stepping out of one's comfort zone and facing potential rejection or failure. Embrace a growth mindset and view setbacks as learning opportunities. Build resilience and self-confidence by gradually taking on challenges and celebrating small successes along the way.

3. Lack of Feedback and Support:

Developers may struggle to receive constructive feedback or find mentors to guide them in developing soft skills. Actively seek feedback from colleagues, supervisors, or mentors. Join professional communities and attend industry events where you can network with experienced professionals who can offer guidance and support.

Final Thoughts! 

The world will tell you that you can’t do it, but it’s the same world that will always troll you down and make you doubt your own abilities. Don’t let ANYONE think that you can’t do enough. They might be soft but the power held by soft skills will take you far. I won’t make a huge claim that it can help you conquer the world. However, ona  realistic level, soft skills surely provide ease during the professional journey otherwise this corporate world would eat you alive. No kidding here! Believe in yourself and LEARN regardless of age, time or gender! 

Good Luck!