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A career in the field of information technology (IT) is one of the most sought these days. Most
engineering college graduates land up in the IT industry. While, a job as a software engineer
looks very lucrative at first glance, once you get into the industry, you realise that it is not just
your technical skills that will keep you in the race.

You need something more to ensure that you are able to do a good job. In other words, you need
some extra skills to ensure that you are able to keep the job after you land it. These extra skills
are called 'soft skills'.

  



Your soft skills or people skills decide how fast and well you climb the ladder of success. Here
are some of the advantages that your soft skills can reap for you:

› They help you grow in your career

› They give you an eye to identify and create opportunities
› They help develop relationships with your colleagues and clients
› They develop good communication and leadership qualities in you
› They help you think beyond dollars.

After reading the advantages your soft skills can get you, you would want to know what is it that
you need as a technical person to grow as a professional and climb the ladder of success.

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Any task that comes to you or your team, undertake with a can-do attitude. Slowly you will
observe that you and your team have become the favourite of the management. Every
accomplished task boosts your self confidence and pushes you one step closer to success.

  

This includes verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Be sure that you are able to put
across your point clearly and confidently. As an IT professional you will need to work with
colleagues and clients of various nationalities and backgrounds. Ensure that you are able
communicate clearly with them. This applies to teleconferencing as well.
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ÿistening is an essential part of communication. Ensure that you listen attentively. This will help
make the other party feel comfortable while interacting with you and improve your
communications.

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Help your team members help themselves. Be friendly and approachable. If your team is stuck
somewhere look out for ideas to overcome the obstacle together.

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Chances are you will have junior members on the team. Recognise their strengths and delegate
them the right work.

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Do not all the credit for a job well done. Pass on praise or recognition from superiors to team
members who deserve it. Doing it publicly or in front of your boss will further instill a feeling of
confidence among your team.

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As you look ahead to grow in your career you will need to deal with various people under you.
You can not expect quality results from a team whose motivational level is too low. So, stay
motivated and keep others motivated.

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A leader is a person whom people are ready to follow. Develop qualities that will make people
follow you not because they are required to but because they want to. Even while operating in a
team, take a role to lead and facilitate the work for other members.


 
 
 


When you are working with people from various cultures you need to be extra careful with your
sense of humour and gestures. Behaviour that is acceptable among Indian colleagues might be
considered obscene or disrespectful by people from other cultures. Stay away from controversial
topics or ideas in the office.

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This is a quality one needs to develop in order to grow. If you want to grow in the hierarchy, you
need to help sub-ordinates grow. Be a good mentor. Help them understand things better. This not
only improves the work environment but also improves your work relationships.

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When you are working with people, at times you will be criticised while at others you will be
required to criticise your colleagues or sub-ordinates. Ensure that you take the criticism
constructively and look at it as an opportunity to grow. Similarly, while criticising others shoose
your words carefully and keep it professional. Destructive criticism will lead to loss of respect
and trust. ÿet your criticism help the other person grow.


 


ÿike an entrepreneur, have a risk-taking attitude. ÿearn to take responsibility for failures and
pride in a job well done.

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While working in a team there will always be one or two people with a negative attitude. This
attitude can be contagious. Employ tactics to deal with such people and improve motivation.

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Keep an eye on your e-mails for proper language. Open up the e-mail with a suitable address and
end with a thanking note. Your words should convey the correct meaning and invoke the desired
action.

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As you climb the ladder of success, you will need to handle work from various fields. For
example, you will have to interact with your technical team on project success, with the HR
department for team appraisal and recruitment, with clients on project requirements or problems
etc. Organise and plan to fit in all the required activities into your schedule.

Once you have developed these soft skills along with your technical skills you will find that you
are a lot more confident about your capabilities.


  

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How to be your boss¶s favorite? This article explains all traits and skills required to become
boss's favorite.

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You can grow faster than most of the people in your industry by acquiring traits described in this
article.