Ask HN: What non-programming skills have been crucial in your tech career?
7 comments
In technical support, the ability to route around the differences in world view between yourself and the user is quite a valuable skill.
Also: The ability to remember that the computer/program/system is just a tool, to help the user get their job done.
Q: "Have you installed any software lately?"
A: "no"
Q: "Do you have any new programs?"
A: "oh yeah, my nephew put this new game in"
Also: The ability to remember that the computer/program/system is just a tool, to help the user get their job done.
Being comfortable saying 'I don't know' and admitting when I'm wrong.
Absolutely, humility and honesty are invaluable in any profession, and tech is no exception. Admitting when you don't know something opens the door to learning and growth, and acknowledging when you're wrong paves the way for problem-solving and innovation. It also builds trust within a team. Thanks for sharing this insight!
* Writing. At large companies those who communicate the best do the best.
* Soft skills. You can call it empathy, leadership, mind reading, or whatever. It all comes down to building trust. Environments that fail to establish trust are bad news, get out fast.
* Organization. Organizational skills are what separate those who write a few lines of code from those who build magnificent applications.
* Soft skills. You can call it empathy, leadership, mind reading, or whatever. It all comes down to building trust. Environments that fail to establish trust are bad news, get out fast.
* Organization. Organizational skills are what separate those who write a few lines of code from those who build magnificent applications.
Public speaking. Whether it's as a presenter at a conference or user group or simply communicating with non-technical staff, the ability to communicate clearly and in understandable concepts without technical jargon is a surprisingly rare and valuable ability among programmers.
Absolutely agree. The ability to articulate complex technical concepts in a simple and understandable way is a highly valuable skill. It also bridges the gap between the tech world and non-tech individuals.
Being humble and distributing credit. People like working with a teammate who recognizes their contributions (and shields them from mistakes) and managers like contributors who raise the morale and productivity of a team.
And when you give credit where it's due, you create a culture of appreciation and respect. This not only boosts morale but also encourages more of the same behavior.
Articulation. Credibility. And projecting an air of confidence regardless of subject matter expertize.
Humility, mistake ownership, respect and giving credit where due just makes work life so much more pleasant. People like to work with other nice people, even if they’re not the strongest in a technical sense.