Every IT specialist has heard about soft skills, but not many can actually understand why are these soft skills so essential. In a simple analogy, a good mechanism can work well, but if the materials of its parts are not compatible, it will not last long.
So people are like parts of a team-mechanism, and it is important to understand if their soft skills-materials are compatible with each other. But, unlike mechanical parts, people can change by themselves and by developing their soft skills they can become a unique and valuable part of any mechanism. So, we can conclude that not only your technical knowledge is important to become a valuable professional. But what soft skills should be developed to reach success? We have picked the most universal one that could be useful to any IT professional, from HR to DevOps:
Communication:
The ability to communicate starts with good listening skills. Listening to the needs and concerns of others without mentally preparing your response is a strategic skill that translates into improved communication. Being able to articulate a position, communicate effectively while under stress, make presentations, and write professionally are basic needs for all workers.
Critical thinking:
The ability to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions is a cognitive ability that is lacking among recent college graduates. Only 28% of 4-year college graduates are rated by their first employer as having "Excellent" critical thinking skills. This skill has been ranked the Most Important and Most Lacking Competency of Next Generation leaders
Stress resilience:
Workplaces are inherently stress-inducing. Deadlines, shifting priorities, and competing demands can push an employee to their limits. This is compounded exponentially when the economy is down and/or the business is struggling. An individual who can endure ongoing stressful situations will remain focused on the task at hand and not be distracted by factors outside of their control.
Time management:
This is really a combination of several other soft skills including self-awareness, drive, motivation, and communication. An individual with time management skills knows their abilities and limits and can honestly communicate those to their team. They commit to what is logical and reasonable and then stick to a pace that allows them to hit their deadline
Teamwork:
Much like time management, teamwork is also a combination of several other soft skills. Teamwork requires respect for others, communication skills, openness to new ideas, collaboration, time management, accountability, and interpersonal skills.
Accountability:
A team member who says what they're going to do and then follows through with action is invaluable! This person can be relied upon to take ownership of an issue and be accountable if things do not go according to plan.
Adaptability:
Finally, if there's one thing you can count on consistently in an organization, it's change. Change is constant. Being able to ride the wave of change without letting the ambiguity and uncertainty of the future become a distraction is incredibly difficult. Adapting to new environments and changing business needs will continue to be a key soft skill for years to come as organizations become increasingly volatile and complex.
Conclusion:
By perfecting these basic and universal soft skills, you will see how your working environment becomes a better place, how the things that were distracting and boring will become helpful and interesting, and you will gain an opportunity to make your work your hobby! But also, this article could be useful to those who are responsible for the development of soft skills in companies, because now your workshops, communication clubs and mentoring programs will gain some strong criterias for what you have to develop!
So keep working and improving, both yourselves and your workplace!
So keep working and improving, both yourselves and your workplace!
Polina Korjykova, recruiter at Netframe
