Steve Taplin, CEO of Sonatafy Technology, is a serial entrepreneur with extensive expertise in software development, MVP product development and the management of staff augmentation services.
Nontechnical Skills – How To Master
The booming technical age has required software developers to not only be exceptional in their field with top industry skills and reputable experience but to have top nontechnical skills, also known as soft skills. Industry demands continue to grow, and businesses are valuing nontechnical skills as equally important as developer skills and experience.
Soft skills are qualities that can make or break your career and elevate you from a good software developer to an in-demand professional, maximizing your earnings by mastering both technical and nontechnical skills.
Organization skills, communication skills, the ability to collaborate and attention to detail are just a few of the most important nontechnical skills that any well-seasoned software developer would need to acquire to create a successful career. These skills are also important to any nontechnical team that’s working on a software development project. If you don’t possess these nontechnical skills, you won’t be able to deliver quality software to a client, and this can lead to many problems within the organization and between teams. If you’re unable to deliver quality software, you’ll lose many opportunities, and your projects may fail, which can directly impact the bottom line of your company. Therefore, if you wish to excel in your career as a software developer and strengthen the way you liaise with clients, you must master these skills.
Organizational And Time-Management Nontechnical Skills
If you struggle with organization and time management, there are tools to help you improve these skills. As Desmond Tutu is often credited with saying, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” Breaking a large task into smaller steps is great advice to avoid getting overwhelmed by the big picture. In a competitive market where time is money, addressing your time-management skills will help you improve your organizational skills as well. One starting point could be using a daily schedule to successfully meet deadlines, thereby maintaining satisfied relationships with your contractors. Visually displaying daily tasks and ticking off a to-do list are helpful strategies for improving time management and increasing your productivity.
Communicational Nontechnical Skills
Communication skills are basically a group of skills or qualities that allow you to communicate effectively with others. Though they may seem simple in theory, it’s important to actively practice these skills, especially for nearshore software developers whose first language may not be English. The ability to actively listen to clients’ needs and transform those needs into successfuloutcomes will positively reflect your experience working with various companies and projects that come your way. Improving your speaking skills through critical analysis and sharing your knowledge and ideas on projects will encourage more collaboration with clients and create a more holistic approach to software development. Brainstorming ideas to solve problems and communicate better is only going to become more important in the fields of technology and business. As you work on each skill, make sure you actively practice those skills every day so you can be prepared for every opportunity.
Emotional Intelligence And Collaboration
While some people believe that everyone on a team has the same skill set, the strength of your emotional intelligence will determine your ability to communicate and participate appropriately. There are many ways to improve your emotional intelligence, such as finding opportunities to share your expertise, making connections with people who can help you and building great relationships by taking the time to listen to and learn from others. Researching tools and strategies you can use right now to build teamwork will set you apart from other equally skilled technicians.
You might be the most technically advanced developer in the industry, but if you can’t successfully acquire the essential soft skills, you won’t find the same opportunities as others who possess exceptional nontechnical skills like organization, communication and collaboration.
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