Soft skills are interpersonal attributes needed to succeed in a work environment. For many years, software developers were stigmatised as people with a lack of soft skills: loners, with rigid-structure thinking and unable to relate to the customers. Nothing can be farther from the truth. College campuses often encourage collaboration on software projects, and developers can be, sometimes, one of the most creative people in the workplace. But, what are those key soft skills a developer needs to nurture to be successful? Let’s find out:
Communication
The ability to communicate effectively is universally desired. Communication is about public speaking and finding ways to ensure that the message you want to transmit is correct.
Developers often find themselves interacting with people who are not as technically proficient as possible, so it is crucial to communicate in a simple yet efficient way and not get caught up in technical details.
Empathy
Understanding what the team members are going through makes it more comfortable to find a way to make a project work for everyone. 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.
Suggesting new ideas is much easier when there is an understanding within a team or with a client. Empathizing with users allows a developing team to see things from their point of view. Publishing a software solution just because of its looks or how a team feels about it doesn’t mean it will succeed.
Problem-solving
By definition, a programmer’s task is to solve problems by developing a software solution. This happens on two different scales: how to do a process efficiently and make it happen.
At some point in a project, problems arise. How to handle them significantly impacts keeping the task on schedule while finding a solution. Doing so is easier once you know the cause. Working as a team can be essential to think of different approaches, and most of the time, guarantees a quicker and more reliable solution.
Time management
Having efficient time management allows you to focus on the essential tasks and get things done more efficiently.
Working for some time on one task and then taking a break before tackling it again (Pomodoro technique) or planning a sequence are ways to focus the attention and build a routine. Not giving something your full attention means that a task could take longer to complete and be prone to errors.
In Mahisoft we develop solutions based on the Agile methodology. Since the scope is not fixed on Agile projects, development teams can create the requirements that will fit into a specific time frame.
Collaboration
Any work environment requires collaboration. Software development processes, like pair programming, stress the importance of working constructively alongside others.
Collaboration is tied closely with communication but is not the same. You may not always agree with the people in your team, but having different points of view, communicating differences, and reaching an agreement helps build better teams.
Creativity
The best ideas and solutions often come when we approach a problem from a different perspective. Given that programming is mathematically-structured, creativity could seem an odd skill to develop. But it makes perfect sense.
The best on the field know when to take a step back and refocus to create new ways to solve an issue. Don’t be afraid to embrace your creative side—look into improvisational activities as a way to train your creative ability.
