How are you today? Did you get enough rest, or did your day unfold the way you hoped? Whatever the answer, remember this: not everything is within our control, and that’s okay😊. Take a moment to pause, breathe, and celebrate the small or big wins you achieved today—because every step forward matters.
Today, I’ve decided to step outside the coding world to talk about something just as crucial in our tech industry , mastering the human element.
Unless you’re the founder of Python or Assembly Language, you need to hear this. In today’s world, social skills are far more important than churning out hundreds of lines of code from memory.
Yes, I mean it. Being able to connect with people, network effectively, overcome social anxiety, listen actively, and tell compelling stories can often land you your dream job faster than your GitHub repositories ever could.
Consider this:
The top-performing companies today were once startups looking for funding. At some point, they had to convince investors that their product was the best and had the potential to dominate the market. How did they achieve this? Through powerful communication and persuasion. No matter how groundbreaking their product was, it wouldn’t have mattered without the ability to articulate its value.
Now imagine this scenario: you’re a 10x developer, and you attend a tech conference. There, you meet the CEO of SpaceX, and during a casual conversation, you pitch your idea for wireless electricity transfer. You leave a lasting impression.
Later, SpaceX opens a position for an electrical engineer, and both you and another candidate—let’s say someone with only a strong GitHub profile apply. Who do you think has a better chance of getting the job? The answer is simple. While both of you have the technical skills, you’ve already connected with the team, demonstrated your capabilities in action, and left them with a personal impression. That connection gives you an edge.
The truth is, no matter how skilled you are, your path to success often involves someone pulling you up. Think of SpaceX rockets—they rely on their lower stages to propel them beyond the atmosphere before the booster disconnects and allows the rocket to soar. Similarly, human connections can act as that initial thrust, propelling you to new heights.
So, while coding skills are essential, remember that mastering the human element can often be the true differentiator in your career.
So, what do you need to do?
1. Learn to connect and network with people from various domains
Build relationships not only within your field but also across other industries. Cross-disciplinary connections can lead to unexpected opportunities and fresh perspectives.
2. Be a good storyteller
Learn to craft narratives that resonate. Whether you're pitching an idea or sharing your achievements, storytelling helps others connect emotionally with your message.
3. Be an active listener
Pay attention to what others are saying without interrupting. Show genuine interest in their ideas—it fosters trust and opens doors to collaboration.
4. Make it a habit to interact with people daily
Step outside your comfort zone and engage with people regularly. It could be through events, meetups, or casual conversations. Consistent interaction builds your confidence and social skills.
5. Overcome social anxiety
Work on managing your nervousness in social settings. Practice speaking confidently, make eye contact, and let your presence be known. However, be mindful not to dominate conversations or come off as overbearing.
6. Learn to reframe disagreements gracefully
Instead of outright dismissing someone’s ideas, use phrases like, “You might be right; I hadn’t thought of it that way. Let me consider that.” This approach fosters collaboration and reduces defensiveness.
7. Be approachable and authentic
Let your personality shine. People gravitate towards those who are genuine and easy to talk to. Avoid being overly formal or robotic in interactions.
8. Practice emotional intelligence
Understand and manage your emotions while being empathetic toward others. This helps in navigating complex social situations and building meaningful connections.
9. Learn to pitch effectively
Whether it’s an idea, project, or yourself, knowing how to succinctly and persuasively present your value is key. Practice pitching to different audiences, tailoring your message accordingly.
10. Seek and give constructive feedback
Don’t shy away from asking for feedback on your communication style. Likewise, offer feedback to others in a positive, respectful manner.
11. Join communities or groups
Be part of communities where you can interact with like-minded individuals, such as tech meetups, professional organizations, or online forums.
12. Stay curious and open-minded
Show a willingness to learn from others, even if their perspectives or expertise differ from yours. This helps you grow intellectually and socially.
LETS TALK MORE ON WAYS TO NETWORK WITH ANYONE
Personal relationships run the world. But why is it that some people seem to build instant rapport with most anyone they come across, while others are left with a network of one?
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
– Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People
Regardless of status or fame, people are people. And the 7 pillars of making a connection with another person are always the same — whether applied to your next-door neighbor, top company CEO or investor, one of the world’s biggest celebrities or even the cute girl sitting at the bar:
1. Be genuine.
The only connections that work will be the ones that you truly care about; the world will see through anything short of that. If you don’t have a genuine interest in the person with whom you’re trying to connect, then stop trying.
2. Provide massive help.
Even the biggest and most powerful people in the world have something they’d like help with. Too many people never reach out to those above them due to the fear that they wouldn’t be able to offer anything in return. But you have more to offer than you realize: write an article or blog post about them, share their project with your community, offer to spread their message through a video interview with them. Give real thought to who you could connect them with to benefit their goals. If it turns out you can’t be that helpful, the gesture alone will stand out.
3. Pay ridiculous attention.
It’s nearly impossible to genuinely offer help if you don’t pay attention — I mean real attention, not just to what business they started or what sport they like! Do your research by reading blog posts, books and articles about the connection beforehand. Learn about their backgrounds and passions. Invest genuine time in learning what really matters to them and how you can help.
4. Connect with people close to them.
Most job openings are filled through networking and referrals, and making connections is no different. You automatically arrive with credibility when referred to someone you want to meet by a mutual friend. Spend more time connecting with your current network of friends and colleagues and see where it leads.
5. Persistence wins most battles.
If you can’t get a direct referral, simply click send on that email or leave a message after the beep. But do not stop there, as most the world tends to. The first attempt is just the very beginning. Realize that the first try may get you nowhere, but the fifth or the tenth tries are the ones that start to yield results. An unreturned email or voicemail doesn’t mean they don’t want to connect with you. It’s your job to be persistent! . Don’t be in a hurry, but don’t be invisible either.
6. Make real friends.
Think about how you’ve made the friends you have. That’s all this is. You only make friends with people you genuinely want in your life. The same rule should go for bigger-name connections. Don’t over-think it. Be human, be helpful and most humans will happily be human in return, regardless of who they are.
7. Remain unforgettable.
All of the above are simple — yet sadly underused — ways of standing out. Send birthday cards. Mail your favorite book with a signed personal note from you on the inside flap. Send them your family Christmas card, Share ideas . Be genuinely helpful. You’d be surprised how the simplest things actually never get done. Being memorable isn’t as hard as some think!
It all comes back to helping others. If you spent 100 percent of your waking hours thinking about how you can help absolutely everyone you come in contact with — from the woman who makes your latte, to the top authority in your industry — you will find everything else tends to take care of itself. The world will suddenly be in your corner.
I hope I was able to teach you something meaningful today😊
Thanks for reading. As a tip you can follow me on Medium here
Happy reading
Enjoy
About WriterDeon Gideon is a technology writer who focuses on AI and data science. He regularly contributes to Cysparks and other tech blogs, offering clear insights into the world of artificial intelligence and its impact on various industries. His writing makes complex topics more accessible, and he's become a trusted voice in the tech community.
You can read more from him here
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