Software developers typically analyze customer needs before developing and testing software to meet those needs. However, it is also critical for software developers to meet the needs and expectations of their workmates. This includes more than just coding; it also includes engaging in meaningful conversations and forming strong professional bonds.

Soft skills top up your hard ones by letting you assess the needs of members of your team and organize a mutual workflow.

Below is a list of soft skills that are required to excel as a software developer. Determine which skills you already have, which skills you should polish, and which ones you should learn and develop right away.

Soft Skills Spotlight

Social prepared some interesting longread with stats which highlighted the importance of having soft skills, let’s check it out: 

• 53% of employers consider soft skills to be "critical" when making a hiring decision; 
• Up to 40% of jobs will require explicit social-emotional skills in the next decade; 
• 57% of companies have a hard time assessing the soft skills of their applicants; 
• 85.5% of employers look for problem-solving skills in the skillsets of their applicants; 
• 88% of college-educated Americans are confident in their critical thinking skills;
• One in three job postings contains baseline or soft skills requirements.

What are the benefits of mastering soft skills for developers?

• Soft skills will empower you in getting hired

Candidates with strong soft skills but weak technical skills are more likely to be hired than those with strong technical skills but weak soft skills. 

• Soft skills will help you advance in your career and achieve your goals more quickly

Learning and honing these core soft skills will help you stand out the most. And they will help you advance in your career and achieve your objectives more quickly. 

Welcome to check your skill set, you will find the most crucial soft skills underneath to be a valuable team member, come on: 

Communication

Without the proper training, a non-technical colleague will struggle to understand your work without your assistance. Excellent communication skills are required to facilitate collaboration. 

Listening is the key to effective communication. Software developers are frequently in situations where they are the only ones who know how to fix something or why someone else's idea is unworkable. If you immediately dismiss that person's thought, you may come across as patronizing. So, practice active listening, maintain eye contact, and thoroughly explain your point of view in a way that everyone can understand. 

Courses below can help to speed up your communication: 

• The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking/Speech Course from Udemy
• Improving Communication Skills from Coursera
• Leading With Effective Communication (Inclusive Leadership Training) from UDX

Problem-solving

When software developers troubleshoot their products to ensure that they function properly, problem-solving abilities enable them to identify and correct technical errors. Typically, software developers analyze their work and devise useful solutions. For example, if the program does not function as expected, developers may examine the code to identify the source of the problem and install an application to improve the software's performance. 

Courses below can help to speed up your problem-solving: 

• Consulting Approach to Problem Solving from Udemy
• Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making from Coursera
• Solving Problems with Creative and Critical Thinking from Coursera

Time management 

Clients may impose deadlines for the submission of the final product, so software developers must manage their time effectively. Time management can include developing a schedule for the entire development process, in which developers set aside days to complete tasks and hold one another accountable for completing projects on time. 

Courses below can help to speed up your time-management: 

• Make Meetings Work & Tackle Time Management Troubles from Udemy 
• Time Management Training with Outlook from Udemy
• Principles of Management from Coursera

Adaptability 

Adaptability refers to the ability to adjust to new circumstances. For software developers, user needs and technology can evolve over time, necessitating a new approach to design. Adaptable professionals can modify their building processes and performance standards to reflect changes.

Courses below can help to speed up your adaptability: 

• How to Demonstrate a 'Can Do' Attitude from Edapp
• Adaptability and Resiliency from Coursera
• Personal and Team Resilience from Edapp

Teamwork 

Of course, you have heard about teamwork a lot, so let’s make just a quick reminder. Working in groups is never easy; it takes time and dedication, but you can accomplish far more together than you can alone. Working alone may be faster, but working together will result in long-term collaborations, greater goals, and better results. You can both learn how to be a productive programmer and learn from others. 

Courses below can help to speed up your teamwork: 

• Collaborate Effectively for Professional Success from Coursera
• Teamwork and Creativity from Coursera 
• Collaboration and Emotional Intelligence from Udemy

Negotiation 

After creating a plan for an application, software developers may use negotiating tactics to align their interests with those of their stakeholders and clients. Clients, for example, may have specific expectations, and organizational leaders may only allocate certain resources to complete the project. To help ensure that their work is satisfactory to all parties involved, developers can negotiate a larger budget from upper management or less stringent deadlines from clients.

Courses below can help to speed up your negotiation: 

• Introduction to Negotiation: A Strategic Playbook for Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator from Coursera 
• Negotiations from Coursera 
• Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills from Coursera

Wrapping up, today, in an increasingly competitive IT market, it is critical to polish up existing skills while also learning new ones. Changing any of your habits or learning a new skill in the middle of your career is difficult but rewarding.