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In the last few years, I can’t help but notice the increase in direct contact between developers and clients. This is often necessary for both the client to fully understand the work that is being done, as well as for the developer to hear directly from the client what they expect.

For those that are not familiar with the term “soft skills”, this represents a combination of several personality traits that combine to form how well an individual communicates, leads and gets along with people. On the other hand, “hard skills” are those abilities that are directly related to knowledge and IQ which encompass the technical requirements of a job.

The increasing need for direct communication occasionally creates a difficult situation for the developer who is used to working in isolation, or with co-workers, but not directly with clients. This is where soft skills come in. When developers and clients can’t communicate effectively, it can result in lost hours for the business, as well as disappointment from the client.

Certainly, developers should not be expected to take classes in proper social graces. However, it is hard to deny that soft skills are becoming a very important quality to look for, (in addition to hard skills) when working with developers. When the budget is on the line, every misunderstanding can cost both the business and the client.