Cover Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

As developers, we all would like to get ourselves a well-paid job. We also probably have plans to gradually move up the corporate ladder and reach success. Unfortunately, not everyone manages to reach this goal. Some find it really hard to go up the ladder, while others find it difficult to land a developer job.

It is indeed true that you need strong technical skills as a developer to succeed. But it’s also true that it takes more than just technological expertise to rise through the ranks and win the opportunity to command teams, projects, and eventually businesses.

By developing and broadening your non-technical skills, you increase the chances of not just landing a “good job” but a great career in technology as well.

“The soft skills are the hard skills. People who master the critical leadership skills today are anything but touchy-feely — they’re direct, they’re clear, they’re compassionate, they’re no-nonsense. But they’re not soft.” — Amy Edmondson

Here is a list of non-technical skills that will ensure you a great career in tech.

1. Self-Discipline

It is easy for someone to get distracted in life. Self-discipline is what helps you focus on your goals. A disciplined developer is able to do things on time, take responsibility for what they do, and more. Being responsible for your actions is essential for you to succeed in your professional life.

“Taking responsibility when things go wrong is crucially important to building trust with others and learning from your mistakes.” — Ryan Ferguson

A self-disciplined developer not only keeps themselves on track but also helps lift up others as well.

Although you don’t necessarily need to have a strict code of conduct, you still need a moderate level of self-discipline that keeps you and your goals in sync.

2. People Skills

“You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” — Lee Iacocca

People always prefer to work with someone who is able to connect with them on a humane level. So the more you show these abilities, the faster your career advances.

According to the Science of People’s Vanessa Van Edwards, people skills are the tools you use to communicate and interact effectively with others. Therefore, it reduces the chance of miscommunication in the workplace, which is very important.

Your project team or workplace may contain a lot of diversity, and for you to fit right in, you need excellent people skills. This would result in your team completing projects exceptionally well — and you would stand out.

3. Intellectual Curiosity

To go up the ladder, developers should start asking questions and looking at problems from different angles to get better solutions. Going with the flow will not help you in this regard.

When looking at the problems and solutions, they should always ask themselves why. This will allow them to get a better understanding of the issues at hand.

According to Jeremy Johnson, founder and CEO of Andela:

“Intellectual curiosity drives projects and companies forward, and catapults careers. To stimulate that curiosity, read up on topics of interest. Look at the latest research. Ask questions.”

Photo by Justin Peterson on Unsplash

4. Openness

Openness is people’s willingness to try out new things and accept them. This is a very important skill for a developer — especially when they go up the ranks.

As technology is constantly evolving, organizations have realized that there is no fixed way to do things. They have started to integrate a lot of flexibility into their environment.

Companies love individuals who think outside the box. They can come up with the most innovative solutions to mind-boggling problems. Being willing to take input from others, accept alternative opinions, and deal with criticism in order to look at the big picture is critical when it comes to bringing out plans and being proactive.

5. Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is when people have high levels of thoughtfulness, strong self-control, and goal-oriented actions. Extremely attentive individuals prefer to be coordinated and are mindful of specifics. They plan ahead, they think about how their behaviour affects others, and they are mindful of deadlines.

This is very important for developers, as it allows them to prioritize tasks based on importance. It also allows them to prepare for the worst. This is especially required when you start managing a team, as you should be prepared to handle any worst-case scenario.

6. Emotional Stability

Humans are emotional beings. Emotion plays a huge part in our daily lives. A lot of people do not give enough importance to emotion. Emotional stability is a very important trait for an individual, especially in the IT field.

Research has even directly linked emotional stability with leadership. It has a direct impact on decision-making skills, quality of life and even influences others.

According to the Mind Resources Institute of Learning and Innovation:

“It takes an emotionally stable person to solve conflicts within an organisation. Emotionally intelligent leaders are well-equipped to handle conflicts and provide resolution by expertly handling disagreements that arise between employees and other stakeholders of the organisation.”

7. Agreeableness

People who are high in agreeableness tend to be more cooperative. This skill enables an individual to be empathetic. As a developer, by putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, you can understand and cater to their requirements and create better solutions.

Individuals who possess this trait are more likeable and admirable to others. This would increase your chances of a promotion by a huge margin. Agreeable individuals also demonstrate higher job satisfaction and are less likely to be involved in workplace accidents.

Conclusion

“Soft skills get little respect but will make or break your career.” — Peggy Klaus

Leave the skills that I’ve missed and those that you think are most important in the comments. Share your experiences.

Thank you for reading. Happy learning!