5 Soft Skills Tech Teams Must Have to Stay Competitive in 2023
Over half – 69 percent – of human resources professionals say their organization has skills gaps, which is 14 percent higher than 2022’s reporting.
Companies are facing an unprecedented rate of digitization. In the wake of the pandemic, skills gaps are widening faster than ever as organizations increase their digital platforms and implement the latest technological solutions. As many as half of the world’s workforce will need retraining or supplemental training by the end of 2025.
Skills-building is more important than ever before. According to Deloitte, skills-based organizations are 107 percent more likely to place talent effectively, 98 percent more likely to be recognized as a great place to work, 98 percent more likely to retain high performers, 49 percent more likely to improve processes to maximize efficiency and 47 percent more likely to provide an inclusive environment.
As companies look to train and provide new skills for their employees to stay competitive, what skills will their technology teams need to secure their future?
There are more than just technical skills that lead to successful teams within the workforce. Soft skills are crucial to maintaining and growing robust tech teams. Skills such as communication, leadership and change management can’t take a backseat when organizations look to establish themselves in the future state of the market.
With the ever-widening skills gaps companies face, what do companies focus on to thrive, and what skills should they look for when building robust tech teams? Continue reading as we highlight the five skills companies looking to expand their digital platforms will need to succeed in the ever-evolving and digitizing market.
1. Problem-Solving
The ability to problem-solve and discover solutions is vital for software developers. It is something to look for when identifying employees to train or reskill for building tech teams. Problem-solving is more than finding solutions; it’s about working through a problem and understanding its impact on the greater system.
Arc describes problem-solving, in relation to software development, as “the process of using theories and research to find solutions to a problem domain while testing different ideas and applying best practices to achieve a desired result.”
Developers must be able to think their way through a problem logically and creatively while keeping in mind the effect the fixes will have on the rest of the program.
2. Attention to Detail
The ability to focus on the specifics of a program and its various aspects is an essential skill for tech teams to have and develop. Producing high-quality software requires developers to pay close attention to the code being written and implemented. If developers do not maintain attention to detail, they risk costly errors and defects that could lead to software malfunctioning.
Mike Grossman, CEO of GoodHire, even stated, “one of the most important skills for software engineers to develop is attention to detail. This is a skill that allows you to complete tasks with consistency and accuracy. It involves unwavering concentration as you evaluate a project, task, or subject.”
3. Passion for learning
While this isn’t much of a “skill,” maintaining up-to-date knowledge in ever-evolving programming languages and systems is a significant skill that software developers must have. Not only will being an avid learner and self-starter help broaden a software developer’s skill sets, but it also increases their ability to adapt to change.
New languages, updates and tools are developed regularly, making continued education and learning imperative for tech teams. As companies look to build out their tech teams along their path to digitization, hiring managers and leaders should look for internal and external candidates who are eager to learn and continually develop their skills.
4. Teamwork
Arguably one of the most critical skills on the list, the ability to work with others and produce results is a skill that is necessary for building successful tech teams. Small, medium and large projects will all be facilitated to some capacity by teams. Not working with others can severely increase the time to project completion and risk integration issues.
Stakeholders are also aware of the importance of teamwork and how often their teams need to collaborate to achieve company goals. Olivia Tan, Co-Founder of CocoFax, shared, “Software engineers frequently collaborate with multiple teams and departments while managing their own. You may be required to work with people who hold opposing views. Other times, misunderstandings can jeopardize your team’s deadline. A successful engineer can collaborate with others, compromising and innovating as required.”
5. Communication
Tech teams will spend their days implementing solutions and communicating their results through various channels and other groups within the organization. Software developers are responsible for effectively, and sometimes cross-departmentally, sharing results, blockers, ideas and feedback to ensure the product launches on time. Communication is vital to a successful product launch or integration and can be overlooked as a necessary skill when hiring for tech teams.
Founders and CEOs like Peter Robert, CEO & Co-Founder of Expert Computer Solutions, have even stated, “building software is important, but being able to communicate and make that software accessible for other team members is crucial for any software engineer. You need to be able to voice goals and objectives to your team while articulating progress and operational updates to other company members. Software engineers need to communicate confidently, or the rest of the company will have difficulty navigating new software.”
Explore how to develop soft skills tech teams must have in 2023.
Companies with up-to-date technical and soft skills will surely succeed in the future state of the ever-evolving global market. Organizations that hyper-focus on the most in-demand and relevant skills to get by may succeed in the short term. Still, they must establish sustainable programs to accelerate workforce development further for long-term gains.
Tech Elevator’s team is comprised of experts in implementing scalable reskilling solutions. With over 3,500 graduates and best-in-class outcomes, Tech Elevator can help your company develop its workforce of the future.
Contact our team to learn how Tech Elevator’s Reskilling Program can partner with your organization.