Do soft skills really matter?

One of the great things about engineering:

It's often objective and measurable.

Not always. Sometimes, you have to make a decision based on gut feels. But compared to many professions, overall it's an objective field.

And for this reason, you can get really far just on your technical ability. Simply learn to build well, so the thinking goes, and that will automatically attract all the job opportunities you need.

That raises a question: is it really worth improving your soft skills at all?

By which I mean things like:

• Better conversation and small-talk skills (especially if your convo skills are terrible right now)

• Making good first impressions

• Setting boundaries so people don't push you around

• Learning to communicate well, verbally and in writing

• Reading people's body language

• Improving your own body language and non-verbal communication

So again: do these matter?

I think it comes back to the notion that if you develop your tech skills enough, you don't have to worry about finding a good job; it'll just happen.

Frankly, that is wishful thinking.

Yes, skilling up helps, and you should become as good as you can at your craft...

But it's naive to think soft skills are not super important. I am sure you will agree, a little of that goes a long way. Especially when combined with great tech skills.

The problem is that for nearly every technology professional, our brains work differently than the normal human.

Call it 'neuro-atypical' or whatever you want. I don't think the labels are helpful. What matters is that the same thing in our heads that makes us great with computers, that enable us to think with such precision and thoroughness and detail, is the same thing that trips us up when we try to have a nice conversation.

That's why I created the 'Soft Skills For Hard Engineers' course module for Boosted Code.

It's unique, as far as I can tell, in that it focuses on how the engineering mind works, and how to work with that in order to develop great social and communication skills.

For some of you reading this, it's going to be the single most important thing you find in Boosted Code. What it teaches you:

• Keys for improving your self-image and confidence, to reduce or even completely reverse social anxiety

• How to "reboot" a bad first impression (yes it's possible)

• How to be more assertive (without being a jerk)

• How to have conversations that make you and everyone feel energized and happy

• How to join a group conversation in progress, so you do not feel excluded

• How to have great eye contact... and how to safely practice your eye-contact skills as you are developing them

• The two types of questions you can ask... And the COMPLETELY DIFFERENT effects they have to the ongoing conversation

• Setting boundaries with others, so you are not pulled into other people's drama or get something "pushed" on you that you don't want

• Ending a conversation when the other person will not just shut up already

• Why making CONSISTENT great first impressions is easier than you think... ESPECIALLY if you have struggled for years

• The surprisingly helpful "cognitive science" of how first impressions work

• How simple changes to your clothing can completely change how people react to you

• Why "manipulation" is the WORST thing you can do with other people... and how to make absolutely sure you NEVER do it, not even accidentally

• The self-sabotaging and completely false belief most IT folks carry around persuasion

• The best method to create a massive social circle of talented individuals who admire you and look up to you

• 12 "must-read" books about communication, human psychology, "win-win" persuasion, and soft skills

Which frankly is all super life-enhancing stuff on its own. Forget about your tech career for a minute. Who in their right mind wouldn't want all of this?

And again, it's made just for technology professionals and engineers, because the normal soft-skill methods don't work for our unique and special snowflake brains. That's just a fact.

And this is all exclusively available in Boosted Code, as part of the 'financial security' track (the reason it's in that track should be obvious to you).

To get in, follow the link below.

P.S. Regarding the last item in the above list:

'12 "must-read" books about communication, human psychology, "win-win" persuasion, and soft skills'

I'll tell you two of those books:

1. 'Skill With People' by Les Giblin - one of the greatest books for quickly boosting your conversation skills, in a way that people like us can actually do.

2. 'When I Say No, I Feel Guilty' by Manuel Smith - If you have trouble speaking up for what you want, or have trouble setting boundaries, this book will change your life.

I have a video in 'Soft Skills For Hard Engineers' that explains the best way to use these books, and why they are so important for folks like us.

And to get that info, along with the other 10 books on the list, you'll have to join Boosted Code.