Worried you can’t compete with AI? That you and your highly developed technical skills might be replaced by a machine?
Some fear is warranted. Maybe a portion of your job — the mundane tasks that seem like drudgery, for example, are vulnerable — but that is just a fraction of what your employers count on you to perform daily.
Consider the power of your “full stack” of soft skills. Even the latest and greatest generative AI tools are unable to empathize, motivate, navigate interpersonal relationships, mentor, resolve conflicts, or perform a myriad of other social functions needed to put a product or service to market.
While your technical skills are certainly the foundation of a successful technical career, the array of benefits brought by strong soft skills can be a game-changer in terms of career development and personal satisfaction.
Amidst much talk of AI and automation taking over jobs, a recent study shows that human skills are still invaluable in the eyes of employers.
The Future of Soft Skills in the Workplace study recently surveyed over 1,000 employees to find out the skills employees and businesses value most
“84% of employees and managers believe that it’s necessary for new employees to possess soft skills and demonstrate this in the hiring process. This figure was the highest in companies with over 500 employees, with 90% saying that soft skills were essential. The most valuable soft skill for new recruits is communication. The most valuable soft skill for C-level executives and senior managers is creativity. The most valuable skill for advancing a career is leadership.”
Soft Skills Crucial for a Career in Technology
Communication: Technology professionals often need to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Effective communication skills ensure that ideas and instructions are conveyed clearly, facilitating smoother project progress and collaboration. And especially in remote environments, the absence of face-to-face interactions can lead to communication challenges.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Most tech projects require collaboration among team members with diverse skill sets. Soft skills like teamwork, empathy, and adaptability are essential for working harmoniously and productively in teams.
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Tech roles often involve solving complex problems. Soft skills like analytical thinking and creativity are vital for finding innovative solutions and for thinking outside the box.
Leadership and Management: As technology professionals advance in their careers, leadership and management skills become increasingly important. These skills help in guiding teams, making strategic decisions, and managing projects effectively.
Customer Orientation: Understanding and meeting the needs of clients or end-users is crucial. Soft skills in customer service help in building strong relationships and ensuring the technology solutions align with user requirements.
Emotional Intelligence: The ability to understand and manage one's emotions, as well as empathize with others, is key to maintaining a positive and productive work environment, especially in high-stress or fast-paced situations.
Conflict Resolution: In any team, conflicts are inevitable. Someone with strong soft skills can play a pivotal role in resolving misunderstandings or conflicts within the team, leading to better cohesion and a more positive working environment.
Mentorship: Professionals with strong soft skills often become go-to mentors and leaders, even informally. This role not only enhances their own leadership and coaching skills but also increases their value and visibility within an organization.
Cultural Awareness: Remote teams often comprise members from diverse cultural backgrounds. Understanding and respecting these differences is crucial for creating an inclusive and effective working environment.
Be Hungry, Humble and Smart
In his classic best-selling book, “The Ideal Team Player,” Patrick Lencioni lays out the thesis that an ideal team player possesses a potent combination of three soft skill virtues — humble, hungry, and smart.
In a recent ‘Tech in Motion” CIO roundtable, Motion Recruitment CIO John Rosembaum elaborated on how he characterized hungry, humble and smart soft skills in employees.
“Hungry self-starters want to work hard; humble individuals are willing to make mistakes and know they are not always the smartest person in the room; and smart people are not only skills smart but possess emotional intelligence and are wise enough to navigate teams and direction in a way that is straight, direct, and also kind,“ he said.
How do you go about sharpening up your soft skills? Chris Walek Executive Director @ Motion Recruitment, said to be proactive.
“Put yourself out there,” he said. “Leverage people, mentors, websites, user groups, LinkedIn, social media, etc. to improve yourself,” he said. “Mentors are the best place to learn. But you must be proactive and seek them out. If there is a principal engineer at your company you want to model yourself after, go find and engage with them. Find out what you need to do to become like them”
While it may seem paradoxical, AI and your company truly need your social talents to take hold. Keep working on your soft skills, and you will be able to succeed, lead, adapt and innovate in your career.