Communication skills are often undervalued in the realm of technology. Soft skills are wrongly ranked beneath technical abilities. Many people assume that they do not need strong communication abilities to work in tech. After all, won’t they be spending more time with computers than people?
This is a false assumption. You are responsible for communicating clearly and effectively with your managers, your colleagues, and your clients. All the technical skills in the world are useless without the ability to communicate.
Interpersonal Communication Abilities
Even if your position is based around technology, all jobs require interaction with other people such as coworkers. Collaboration is very valuable. Your teammates will be able to help you solve problems that you would be unable to find answers to alone.
Training is another important part of interpersonal communication. At some point, you will be required to transfer knowledge to others. If you are a support specialist, you will have to communicate with clients and help them understand computer software without any technological jargon. This is a very valuable skill that can take years to develop.
Listening
Listening is another important aspect of good communication. Do not mistake listening for a lack of speaking. Instead, seek to be an active listener who pays attention and asks questions at appropriate times. This will help you better understand your coworkers’ techniques and ideas. The skill will also help you respond to your clients’ questions.
Collaboration
Remember, you are not alone in the IT world. Most of the time, you will be working on a team with other individuals. No single person develops a new piece of technology. Instead, it takes a team of people to successfully create something new. This is the most important reason IT professionals need to be comfortable working in a team environment and collaborating with others.
Written Communication
Your interpersonal communication abilities are not the only way to share knowledge with your peers. Written communication is another necessary soft skill. Communicating your thoughts through writing is important in every aspect of your work. Examples of writing in the IT industry include creating a user manual for a new program, writing an effective ticket for QA assistance, and putting together a requirements document for an important project.
Strong communication skills are a key element of your success in the IT industry. By exercising great interpersonal communication abilities, collaboration, and writing skills, you’ll be able to set yourself apart from other professionals and become a leader in your field.
More information can be found about communication and technology at at the sources I used: 4 Important Communication Skills for Tech Career Success and The 7 Most Important Communication Skills an IT Leader Should Have.
This article was originally published on DouglasWolkTennessee.com