Communication is a very important soft skill whose value has increased with the exponential growth of AI tools for developers in the last several years. Good hard skills alone are not enough to guarantee a good position. Today, you should be flexible and willing to step outside your main domain to solve a wide range of problems. Additionally, you must be actively involved in communication with customers and project managers.
How can you train soft skills in communication? I want to share my exercises that have helped me improve in this area.
Improving writing skills. A great way to train yourself to correctly formulate your thoughts while aligning with English grammar is through writing. Try to practice not only when necessary, such as writing documentation or to responding to work emails, but also regularly: write blog posts, comment on articles, or simply keep a diary.
Participating in speaking club. Join a reading club, start you own community on Clubhouse, or use an online app to practice English with others. These are excellent ways to improve your ability to keep conversations alive and engaging for participants. Additionally, such exercises are especially useful if you are shy about public speaking.
Managing a children’s sports club. This may not be suitable for everyone, but if you have the opportunity to be an assistant coach for a children’s sports team, don’t miss it! Children are very different, and you cannot use the same approach for everyone. You must analyze and adjust your methods. Motivation and positive feedback are essential in this kind of communication. Additionally, you may encounter many conflict situations that you will need to manage.
These are my exercises that have helped me improve my communication, conflict resolution, and management skills. They are not easy and require stepping outside your comfort zone. However, this is critical for growth - both in speed and quality. As a bonus, you will gain new experience and have a lot of fun! How do you develop your communication skills? Feel free to share your tips in comments.
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