Most people assume success in IT just comes down to technical expertise.
Learn the operating systems, earn the certifications, and gain on the job experience.
But from years of experience, Matt explained that’s only part of the equation. Some of the most valuable skills in IT have nothing to do with technology at all. Soft skills are needed to complement the technical ones.
Professionals in the industry are able to master three soft skills in IT to thrive: the desire to learn, communication, and proactive thinking.
1. Never Stop Learning
Technical knowledge is the baseline for the IT industry, but the biggest skills for success aren’t technical.
Sure, there’s still the need to know how computers work, diagnosing and fixing them, the different models, how they share information and create a network, but you need to continue to want to figure out how these concepts work.
The industry is constantly changing, and learning is the only way to keep up. What works today might be obsolete tomorrow.
You won’t be successful in IT if you don’t want to get any better.
2. Speaking Their Language
We don’t mean this literally (though being multi-lingual is helpful no matter where you go or what you do).
Professionals who stand out and can be an invaluable service are able to communicate effectively with their clients.
Being able to properly communicate your ideas to someone who has a limited understanding of what you do is essential.
Business owners expect and understand that you know what you’re doing. However, they’ll want to know how any of it affects their work or company.
Heavily technical explanations with confusing details are not helpful. A balance is key; both too much and too little technical information provided will be confusing.
For example: if a business owner who isn’t technologically savvy speaks to their tech person about something that isn’t working how they want it to, it will be jarring and confusing to them if their tech says, ‘no, it’s working as it should’.
To the business owner, their pain point still exists; something isn’t working how the business needs it to, even if it, technically, is working correctly.
The tech needs to be able to recognize this conflict and walk the business owner through this pain point to a satisfactory conclusion, communicating clearly by asking the right questions and then providing understandable answers.
Note:
What exactly does the business owner want?
What’s the disconnect from how the technology is working versus how we want it to work?
Do we need to revisit how the current technology that we have should function?
Or do we instead need to move to an entirely different solution?
3. Looking Ahead
The world of IT is constantly changing, so while you look out for yourself by learning, you look out for your clients by making sure that processes, hardware, software, anything they may need, is properly in place for when ‘stuff’ hits the fan.
However, on top of communication, the soft skill of proactivity is also essential. Being able to look ahead and see what you or your client(s) will need to succeed in an ever-changing industry ensures economic survival.
“When we’re being approached by new clients, new prospects, they’re usually coming to us and saying, ‘I like my tech, they solve my problems, but maybe one, they don’t answer my business questions, two, we don’t think they’re looking forward into the future…”
Clients want you to have a plan for their company, they want to know how you plan to help them grow. Providing them with the steps you will take over the next couple years shows you’re taking initiative.
Keys to Success
Success in IT isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about combining technical expertise with the ability to continuously learn, understand business objectives, and anticipate future needs.
Certifications can teach you technology and experience can sharpen your technical skills, but the professionals that clients remember and trust are the ones who can communicate, solve problems collaboratively, and help them prepare for what’s next.
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