Importance of Soft Skills in IT
In this Community Summit North America 2022 moment, John Brennan, Manager of Managed Services, sa.global, discusses the importance of having soft skills in IT.
Highlights
00:08 – Active listening is a powerful skill to have in IT. It demonstrates a person’s understanding of a complex issue and creates room for clarification.
00:46 – Demonstrating engaged and active listening gives one control of the conversation. If someone is explaining a complex problem, Brennan suggests that before internalizing the issue, repeat the problem back to them to ensure full understanding. This gives one the ability to lead the conversation.
01:03 – Another important aspect of controlling a conversation is that it leaves a “last impression.” Last impressions are arguably more valuable than first impressions – following up and showing active engagement is a way to ensure one creates a powerful last impression. Brennan says this is an easy thing to do.