Which People Skills Do You Need?

In order to succeed in any chosen career field, you need people skills.

But wait, aren’t people skills the same thing as soft skills?

While soft skills refer to any non-technical skills such as time management and critical thinking, people skills include only the skills directly related to communication and interpersonal relationships.

In this article, we will delve into (= dive into) the top 5 people skills that can propel (= drive) you forward in the tech industry, helping you build fruitful (= productive) relationships and foster effective communication.

1. Emotional Intelligence: The Art of Human Connection

Technical expertise may be your foundation (= basis), but emotional intelligence is the glue that binds (= connects) it all together. Developing emotional intelligence allows you to navigate conflicts, build strong relationships, and create a positive work environment that fosters innovation and productivity.

The simplest way to practice emotional intelligence is by putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and trying to identify with the feelings and thoughts of that person.

For example, if you got some harsh feedback from a customer, instead of taking it personally, try to imagine how you would feel in that customer’s situation.

2. Communication: Be proactive

Mastering this skill means not only expressing your thoughts and ideas clearly but also actively listening to others. Great communicators in the tech industry not only articulate (= clearly explain) complex concepts concisely but also have the ability to translate technical jargon (= professional terms) into easily understandable terms for non-technical stakeholders. Think of it this way: It is your responsibility to make sure people interpret your message correctly. Whenever a misunderstanding occurs, at least 50% of it is your fault, so do your best not to let it happen.

Effective communication in a team environment means keeping everyone on the same page regarding:

• The goal and objectives of the projects (What you do and why)
• The tools and workflow (How you do it)
• The deadlines (When you need to do it)
• The roles within the project (Who will do it)
• Project updates and plans (This is key for dynamic fast-paced projects where requirements and processes can change rapidly).
• Communication culture (newcomers need to be explained how communication is done in your team).

By honing (= improving) the skill of effective communication, you can foster efficient collaboration and align diverse perspectives towards a common goal.

3. Adaptability: Embrace Change and Embrace Growth

The ability to learn quickly, pivot when needed, and embrace new methodologies ensures you stay ahead of the curve (= stay informed about industry news) in an industry where yesterday’s cutting-edge becomes today’s legacy.

This doesn’t mean giving up your tried and true methods and tools in favor of something unfamiliar. Stick with what works but keep an open mind to trends and recent developments.

The reason new technologies gain popularity is that they solve a problem many people are experiencing. So ask yourself, “What problem can I solve with the help of emerging trends and technologies?”

4. Problem-Solving: Unleashing the Innovative Mindset

Cultivating this skill means being resourceful, thinking creatively, and embracing a trial-and-error (= trying and experimenting) approach.

For example, if you’re not sure if you should try a new content format for your social media page, try it for one week and look at the engagement. How does it compare against the metrics of your other content types? Did you get any feedback from the audience? What was it?

Based on the answers to these questions, you will know whether to proceed with the idea, what needs to be tweaked, etc. If you had not tried this idea at all, however, you would not have those learnings.

5. Collaboration: Building Bridges for Collective Success

The ability to collaborate effectively, leveraging the strengths of others while offering your own expertise, is a hallmark (= distinct feature) of success. To be a good collaborator, you need leadership skills as well as excellent communication and organization skills. These skills can not be developed overnight and will require a lot of dedicated practice and learning through experience.

However, here are a few ideas on which steps you can take toward becoming a better collaborator:

1. Elicit ideas.

On top of sharing your own ideas, encourage and inspire others to share theirs. Saying simple things like: “I know you must have some thoughts on this. What would you propose?” or “I’d love to hear your perspective on this issue. What do you think we should do?” can motivate people to share ideas.

2. Give feedback.

This is very straightforward. If you like something, say it. If you don’t like something, say it and explain why, but make sure to be polite and specific.

Now that we went through the list of top 5 people skills, the question is, “Do you have them?” Would you like to improve them? You can do that by taking the English For IT: Communication course.