Why IT Pros Need Better Soft Skills

A significant share of CIOs say today's tech pros need to improve upon their communications interactions and other soft skills, according to a recent survey from Robert Half Technology. After all, in the modern era of cross-departmental collaboration, IT employees have to expand beyond purely technical competencies to work with business teams on strategic goals—efforts which require the ability to communicate well, both in writing and conversation. CIOs also said their team members must convey a better sense of work ethic and accountability, in addition to projecting more overall professionalism and business savvy. "While technical skills open the door to new career opportunities for IT professionals, soft skills are essential for landing promotions and leadership roles," said John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Technology employees who seek advancement in today's business environment require a healthy mix of business acumen, interpersonal skills and technical ability." The research includes best practices for CIOs to encourage better soft skills among staffers, and we've included those here. More than 2,500 CIOs took part in the research.