In yesterday’s tech landscape, software developers were often seen as technical experts solely focused on coding. However, soft skills for developers, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, are becoming increasingly crucial for success. Interpersonal and communication skills play a vital role in collaborating with teams, understanding user needs, and navigating the complexities of the software development lifecycle.

In this post, I explore why soft skills for developers are becoming the new essential skills for working in this field. The required technical skills will be ‘table stakes’ to enter the game. As AI and automation continue to advance, having these interpersonal and intrapersonal skills will set developers apart and enable them to thrive in an AI-enabled workforce.

The New Reality of Work

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent shift to remote work have significantly impacted the software development landscape, highlighting the increasing importance of soft skills for developers. Here are some key ways in which this new reality has increased the need for soft skills.

• Remote Teams: Developers now work in more geographically dispersed teams, and that requires strong communication and collaboration skills to coordinate and share information effectively. It is soft skills that create a positive and supportive work environment. With remote work, it's even more essential to develop empathy and understanding for colleagues who may be facing personal challenges or working in different time zones.
• Virtual Meetings: The reliance on virtual meetings in tools such as Teams and Zoom has increased the need for strong communication skills, including active listening, clear articulation, and the ability to convey ideas effectively in a virtual setting.
• Asynchronous Communication: The use of asynchronous communication tools, such as email, messaging apps and code collaboration tools, require clear and concise communication to avoid misunderstandings.
• Remote Troubleshooting: Remote work has presented new challenges, such as technical difficulties and changes in work processes. Developers must be able to troubleshoot and solve problems remotely in unusual environments, often without in-person assistance.
• Remote Onboarding: New developers may need to be onboarded remotely, and that may require strong communication and onboarding skills. Developers may have to deal with new work setups and tools, often with minimal training or support.
• Adapting to Change: The rapidly evolving situation during the pandemic and the introduction of AI tools require developers to be adaptable and flexible in their work. These changes require problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Home Office: Working from a home office environment requires interacting with other people virtually rather than face-to-face, and this requires being comfortable speaking into a microphone and being on camera.
• Distraction Management: Managing distractions requires effective time management and strong self-discipline to stay focused and productive.
• Setting Boundaries: Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal time is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Managing Stress: The challenges of remote work can lead to increased stress and developer burnout. Emotional intelligence is crucial for managing these challenges.

Developer soft skills such as effective communication, collaboration, adaptability, resilience, and emotional intelligence are now essential for success in the modern workplace. People must be proficient in navigating and utilizing the digital tools required for communication, collaboration, and project management.

What are Soft Skills?

Soft skills refer to interpersonal and communication abilities and are distinct from technical or hard skills, which are specific job-related competencies. The set of skills that are identified as “soft skills” depends on who is writing the list. I have emphasized higher-level soft skills for software developers to focus on, and organized them into seven categories.

1. Communication and Collaboration

• Effective communication: Clearly articulate ideas and explain technical concepts clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences (such as stakeholders and clients).
• Collaboration: The capacity to work effectively with teams of diverse individuals, including designers, project managers, and other developers. It will be necessary to share knowledge and contribute to a positive culture by actively participating in the team.
• Active listening: Understanding and responding to the needs and perspectives of others is crucial for successful teamwork and problem-solving.
• Conflict resolution: Address disagreements and conflicts constructively to maintain positive relationships.

2. Critical Thinking and Decision-making

• Problem-solving: Analyzing complex problems into smaller, manageable components.
• Critical thinking: The ability to evaluate information and analyze arguments so that better information is available for decision-making.
• Creative thinking: Develop innovative solutions to challenges that require thinking ‘outside the box.’

3. Adaptability and Resilience

• Flexibility: Be open to change and adapt to modified and new technologies and methodologies, which is a mindset shared by those who choose to build in public and share their process transparently.
• Resilience: Cope with challenges and setbacks in a way that moves events and people, including yourself, toward your goals.
• Growth mindset: Thrive on challenges and see failure as a springboard for growth and developing your abilities.

4. Emotional Intelligence

• Empathy: Understanding and responding to the emotions of others.
• Self-awareness: Recognizing one's own strengths, weaknesses, and emotions.
• Stress management: The ability to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset.

5. Time Management and Organization

• Prioritization: The ability to effectively manage time and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
• Organization: The skill of maintaining a structured and organized workspace.
• Attention to detail: Pay close attention to the quality of your work and avoid errors.

6. Lifelong Learning

• Curiosity: A genuine interest in learning new technologies and skills.
• Continuous improvement: The commitment to staying up-to-date with technologies, trends, and best practices relevant to projects’ goals and tasks, including leveraging AI tools for students, is crucial for professional growth. To actively seek out opportunities to learn and develop new skills.

7. Leadership and Teamwork

• Leadership: The ability to inspire and motivate team members.
• Teamwork: Working effectively with others to achieve common goals.
• Conflict resolution: The ability to resolve conflicts and maintain positive relationships.

How You Can Learn Software Developer Soft Skills

Companies and government agencies are investing in various initiatives to provide developers with free training and resources focused on important soft skills for software developers. This demonstrates their commitment to fostering a skilled workforce that can navigate the complexities of an AI-enabled workforce. There are many available sources of different types.

• Internal Workshops: Many companies offer in-house workshops or training sessions for programmer soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• External Partnerships with Trainers: Companies partner with experienced trainers or consultants to provide specialized soft skills training to their developers.
• Government-Funded Programs: Government agencies may offer grants or subsidies to support programs focused on developing soft skills needed for a software developer in the tech industry.
• Online Platforms and Communities: Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and online developer communities sometimes offer free or discounted courses and resources on soft skills.
• Mentorship Programs: Mentorship programs can be designed to specifically address the development of soft skills for a software developer. This allows practice and feedback in an environment that should be relatively free of risk.

By investing in these initiatives, companies and government agencies are helping to ensure that developers have the necessary skills to succeed in today's competitive job market and contribute to the growth of the tech industry.

The following list describes four examples of training top soft skills for software developers. A Google search for developer soft skills returns many of these types of resources.

• The first example is a YouTube video of a developer who describes the soft skills that have helped him. I recommend this because he speaks from real-world experience. The channel is IAmTimCorey and the video’s title is “What Soft Skills Benefit Software Developers the Most?”
• The second example is Soft Skills Guides and Resources for Software Engineers from More Than Coders. This type of training may be better for people who prefer to learn by reading.
• The third example is from a large report by a consortium of nine companies including Cisco, Google, and Microsoft. The study analyzed 47 job roles (with 15 in software development) to determine the expected impact of AI and the training that would be needed. It links to recommended courses for each job, and most of the courses are free. For example, IBM SkillsBuild offers “Working in a Digital World: Professional Skills” for developer soft skills.
• The fourth example is from Udemy and I bought it today on sale for $22.99 (regularly $139.99). The course is “Soft Skills: The 11 Essential Career Soft Skills.” It has 34+ hours of video lectures by an excellent instructor, and those I have watched so far have been very good. There will be sections you may not need, such as how to speak from a teleprompter, but those sections are like icing on the cake.

Another post on this blog discusses all types of AI upskilling and reskilling techniques that will be necessary to participate in the AI-enabled workforce. It includes a list of seven free courses on soft skills for computer programmers.

Conclusion

There are three reasons why it can be worth your time and effort to learn soft skills for software developers:

1. Developing strong soft skills can help you stand out from your peers and advance your career. For example, soft skills can open doors to new opportunities.
2. Software developer soft skills will be increasingly required as AI introduces a new reality into the software development environment.
3. Soft skills can pay off in your personal life even more than in your professional life. Your day-to-day life involves interacting with people, and your new soft skills can dramatically improve your short-term interactions and long-term relationships.

As the software development industry continues to grow and evolve, the expected importance of soft skills for developers cannot be overstated. While technical proficiency is undoubtedly essential, possessing strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills will allow you to adapt and create stronger relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.