How can you balance technical and non-technical skills in network administration?

Agree with this.Solid basics will help much. Basics help much while troubleshooting network issues. Networking basics will apply for any vendor in the market, so we can adopt technologies easily.

Knowing the Basics is fundamental to any troubleshooting and in taking the next step up to more complicated network subjects. A Cisco ASA Router and a Palo Alto Router have completely different interfaces for configuration- but the basics for networking are still the same for both.

The world is constantly changing and with the power of machine learning it’s important to know what tools are able to be utilized. Don’t be afraid to use a new tool you haven’t seen before.

Today and tomorrow network is not like the network we are using in our home or small office . These new network have intelligent built into them, they need’s little to non technical knowledge. They will send alerts from all directions and users device , they will try and self heal and even make intelligent change to traffic routes utilizing not only your network but other network to get it purpose complete. The big challenge and main duty for network administrators, it to understand what resources your users need access to and how is this affecting their productivity , finally what users doing in the network that can affect policy. (Social engineering) —- Network administrators is not network engineering —- #compflorida

To balance between the two, we all (mostly) have technical certifications, as expected. How do we balance those certifications with important soft or NonTechnical Skills such as Communication, Time Management, Cooperation, Adaptability, Organization, and Storytelling (sharing previous experiences for example) These key NTS’s are improved through repetition, and it is helpful to know what the good and the bad examples of these soft skills are. Training, (free online) Practice and general awareness until there is an industry standard that would be on par with the technical certifications.

In my perspective balancing technical and non-technical skills in network administration is crucial for success in the field. Technical skills in network administration is important to effectively manage and troubleshoot networks. But, it is equally important to develop non-technical skills to enhance your technical abilities. They should focus on developing their communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with team members, and articulating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Ultimately, network admin who can balance their technical skills with non-technical skills are better to tackle the challenges of network administration, collaborate effectively with colleagues and clients, and deliver optimal solutions.

In network administration, mastering the technical side involves staying updated on tech trends and certifications. Yet, don't overlook non-technical skills. Effective communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal abilities are vital for collaboration and creating a positive work environment. Striking this balance transforms a network administrator into a versatile professional, excelling not just in technical expertise but also in interpersonal effectiveness within the dynamic network management landscape.