5 Soft Skills Every Developer Needs to Be Successful
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Most content discussing what developers and programmers need for success revolves around their technical skills. Obviously, this makes a lot of sense. However, it is worth noting that becoming a developer involves a lot more than just writing code.
Aspiring developers need to leverage soft skills to remain competitive, recognizing that there’s a strong chance that these will set them apart from their peers. Soft skills are not necessarily learned in a classroom or behind a computer screen; rather, they are personal traits that allow one to interact effectively with other people and complete tasks efficiently. Here are five soft skills developers need to be successful in their field:
Empathy
While you might not associate empathy with developers and programmers, it is an integral skill that allows one to understand problems and find agreeable solutions. Developers who can empathize are more likely to suggest ideas when they have an understanding of team dynamics.
In an article about soft skills every developer needs published on Hacker Noon, empathy is listed as one of the most important. The piece states, “Empathy allows us to predict how others are likely to react to what we say, meaning that we can tailor how we speak to our audience.” Empathy is also useful for understanding user preferences and seeing things from a consumer’s point of view. In turn, this enables developers to make informed decisions that aren’t simply based on personal preference.
Communication
Effective communication skills are essential in almost any job profile, and a developer is no exception. Developers should be able to communicate well, both orally and in written forms. They will often need to explain their processes in simpler terms that other employees who are not as technologically savvy can fully understand. Similarly, they might also have to speak up in meetings with clients, especially when more technical clarity is needed.
Finally, for developers in leadership positions, good communication skills are key to completing projects successfully. In fact, ineffective communication is one of three of the biggest causes of project failure. Thus, developers should be able to communicate in a clear and confident manner, regardless of their specific job requirements. Some tips to communicate well include being an active listener, honing your writing skills, speaking with conviction, and not interrupting others as they talk.
Curiosity
Everyone’s heard the saying “curiosity killed the cat.” When it comes to development, though, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Some of the greatest inventions are the result of curious minds, paired with the ability to question the way things are.
Developers should be unafraid to try new things and question things that don’t sound quite right to them, albeit in a respectful manner. This is a key part of how to become a better developer — it’s important not to take everyone’s word as the gospel truth. Being curious, open-minded, and willing to question things without fear of being wrong is what spurs new innovation, which is an asset for anyone in the field.
Problem Solving
Christine Julien, a software engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin, states that problem solving and logical thinking are two of the skills that “absolutely differentiate great software engineers from good ones.” Development is a tough field, with problems constantly arising from tiny errors.
A lot of developers spend most of their time debugging and fixing errors, as opposed to writing new code. In this capacity, the ability to solve problems and thinking in a logical manner is extremely important. The ability to pinpoint problems and then use deductive reasoning to come to a working solution is a crucial component of most development jobs.
Sharp Memory
In today’s world, where information can be accessed at the click of a button, a sharp memory no longer seems as important as it once was. However, having a good memory can be extremely valuable in the workplace, especially when it comes to development. Employees spend hours staring at complex sequences. Additionally, they also have to multitask, which affects brain function. An article on Grantham University’s blog cites a decade-long study that found that “people who frequently engage with multiple types of media at once performed worse on simple memory tasks.”
As a result of a developer’s everyday duties, the brain can start to get a little jumbled up and forget certain things. That’s why it’s important for developers to continuously hone their memory skills. Easy ways to boost one’s memory include eating foods that increase brain function, playing brain games, and getting plenty of sleep.
It is no longer enough to be highly skilled in a technical field. With increasing amounts of competition in a constantly evolving industry, soft skills are what allow certain developers to stand out. Use this list of soft skills to stay relevant, competitive, and succeed as a developer.