Soft Skills every software developer should have

Beyond and above the technical aspect of things there are certain skills, abilities, and characters a software engineer requires in order to thrive. No matter how good an engineer you are, if you lack these skills you might find yourself always starting from “square one.”

In this article, I show you some of the soft skills that are considered foundational for every software engineer. But before that let's examine what skill means and after that, we will relate it to soft skills.

According to Merriam-Webster; "Skill is the ability to use one's knowledge effectively and steadily in execution and Performance." Therefore we will look at some of the abilities required in order to effectively and readily execute and perform. These abilities have little or nothing to do with technicalities; such abilities are often referred to as soft skills.

Soft skills according to Investopedia a financial website that provides investment dictionaries are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's relationship with other people in the workplace. In a nutshell, soft skills are human-centered.

Your ability or inability to effectively and steadily execute work responsibilities with other humans will determine how successful you will be as a software engineer.

As promised At the beginning of this article let's examine some of the soft skills you will require as a software developer.

Communication

At every point in our lives, there are always three tiers of relationship, the first is our superiors, the second is our equals and the third is our subordinates. How we relate and communicate with each tier differs, and an understanding of this matters a great deal.

Communication is basically the exchange of information and interactions. The way we communicate with superiors is different from how we should with our equals or subordinates. The things you say are important as the way you say them when you say them, the tone in which you said them, and your body language when you said them. You have to understand that people don't just listen to what you say; they also listen to what you are not saying. People want to feel respected and honored when you talk to them. For your superiors try to understand how they define respect and interact with them as such. There is a whole lot in communication that this article can possibly cover I will encourage you to read up more on communication.

Negotiation

Negotiation skill is one that most software developer lacks, especially beginners. The importance of this skill cannot be over-emphasized. According to Investopedia; “negotiation refers to a strategic discussion that resolves an issue in a way that both parties find acceptable”. Note that it said both parties have to find the resolution acceptable, therefore, if at the end of the day you or the other party Feel cheated or dissatisfied it simply means you have not negotiated effectively. You must as well be strategic about it, and some of the ways to be strategic about negotiation are;

1. Don’t be desperate
2. Study the other Party
3. Be confident
4. Understand your Strength and weaknesses
5. Know your worth

Teamwork

Software engineers work mostly in teams, if a software engineer lacks the ability to work effectively with teams he or she may constitute a nuisance and disruption that may cost a lot, and that is what nobody wants. I have seen software developers who are skilled technically, but lack teamwork ability and they never do well, to say the least. To make the most out of your career, you must grow your teamwork ability.

Problem-Solving

The world of software engineering is all about solving problems, concentrate and grow your problem-solving skill. I have an article where I explain strategies a software engineer can apply in order to grow their problem-solving skills. A software engineer who cannot solve problems is as good as a teacher who cannot teach.

Creativity

Creativity is one's ability to solve problems creatively; it is as simple as that. As a software engineer, it is important to be innovative. Always ask yourself; how can I do things differently? What values can I add to things? Being creative gives you an edge over other people, do not neglect little details regardless of how seemingly little they are, and approach problems with a creative mindset.

You have it. here are the five soft skills you need to develop as a software engineer. But I will advise you not to stop there. You might want to work on your critical thinking skill, leadership skills, conflict management skills, stress management skill, and resourcefulness skills. Learning and mastering these skills will accelerate your career faster and higher than you could ever imagine.

Thank you for reading this article, I hope you got value for your time. What are some of the soft skills you've been able to develop over time and what new skills have you resolved to develop? Let’s see it in the comment section.