Beyond Coding | Soft skills every great IT professional should have!

In the world of IT, without a doubt, programming (or coding) is the number one skill that is required for any IT professional. Are there more than coding skills that are necessary for them to differentiate? Like in any other industry, even in IT, we can choose to be an IT professional or strive to become a great IT professional. More than coding skills or knowledge is needed to become a great IT professional. Let us look at what makes an IT professional a great IT professional.

1. Communication Skills

There is no second thought about this. Practical communication skills are extremely important in any industry (and to a great extent even in personal life). Practical communication skills don't just mean good language understanding (whether English or any other language, as per the context). It is also about the crispness of the communication, delivering the right message with the right emotion, and tailoring the communication (without losing information) depending on the audience.

In IT, for example, one can explain things to non-IT stakeholders without technical jargon. Another example is how a project status is presented to CXOs vs program managers. CXOs might be more interested in the overall timelines, budget, and cost control. In contrast, program managers might be more interested in the detailed status of each project line item. They may help project managers navigate the daily day-to-day challenges. So, status must be tailored for different stakeholder groups depending on their interests and what you want from them.

These are examples of what it means when anyone says communication skills to reiterate, it doesn't just mean good language skills but also the crispness of the message, frequency of communication, use of the right emotion, use of the right medium, tailoring of the communication, and many more.

2. Domain Knowledge

To become a great IT professional, domain knowledge is another crucial aspect that IT professionals should focus on. There are many great programmers. However, only a few understand why they are writing that code.

For example, we must write code for a lead capture form in a CRM. We can certainly find many programmers who can do that. However, the output may be much better if the programmer understands what a lead and CRM mean and why they write that code.

If the lead capture form is for a text message campaign. Understandably, users will experience this form on a mobile device, and if the programmer understands this, it is highly likely that the form will be designed for mobile devices.

Further, if this is for a hotel, it may make sense to add fields like birthday and anniversary date, whereas if this is for a manufacturing company, these fields may not be relevant.

Programmers who understand the business aspects add much more value and are sought after.

3. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Most IT jobs are team-centric, and with increased remote workers, empathy and emotional intelligence are paramount. These skills enable IT professionals to understand and manage their emotions and empathize with their colleagues' emotions and perspectives.

Empathy helps to build a collaborative and supportive work culture. For example, understanding the challenges a teammate faces working in a different time zone can lead to more considerate scheduling of meetings and deadlines. Emotional intelligence helps in conflict resolution, promotes a culture of handling disagreements constructively, and maintains team cohesion and morale.

4. Problem-solving and Critical Thinking

With an ever-changing world and rapidly changing technology, problem-solving, and critical thinking are other skills that programmers must develop to stand out as great IT professionals.

Technology evolves daily, and problems emerge with each technological advancement. While programming skills are extremely important, IT professionals who can analyze problems from multiple angles, identify root causes, and develop innovative solutions are in demand.

A great IT professional approaches problems methodically, using logic and creativity to devise effective solutions. They can anticipate and proactively address potential issues, minimizing disruptions and ensuring smooth project execution. This proactive problem-solving ability is a hallmark of excellence in IT.

5. Adaptability and Continuous Learning

As mentioned earlier, technology is rapidly changing. IT professionals who can adapt to this change and learn faster are in demand. Their skills will set them apart as great IT professionals if they are willing to learn and learn quickly.

One can differentiate oneself as a great IT professional by embracing change, being open to new ideas, and continuously updating one's skills to stay relevant and competitive.

Great IT professionals seek new knowledge and quickly adapt to new tools, frameworks, and methodologies. They are open to change but see it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. This mindset enables them to navigate the dynamic IT environment effectively.

Conclusion

While technical skills form the foundation of an IT career, soft skills are the differentiators that elevate a professional to greatness. Communication skills, domain knowledge, empathy, problem-solving, and adaptability are critical soft skills that create a well-rounded and highly effective IT professional combined with technical prowess. As the industry continues to evolve, the importance of these soft skills will only grow, underscoring the need for IT professionals to cultivate and hone them continuously.

About the Author

Goutham Bende is head of IT Applications at Collabera LLC; Goutham Bende has implemented strategic IT roadmaps, which have resulted in substantial cost savings and improvement in key business metrics.