The Most Important Non-Programming Skills for Programmers

As programmers, we tend to place a huge emphasis on technical skills – learning the latest languages, frameworks and tools, mastering algorithms and data structures, and writing clean, efficient code. Without a doubt, these are critical skills to develop.

However, in my experience as a full-stack developer, I‘ve found that certain non-programming skills are equally important, if not more so in many cases, to being an effective, successful programmer. Communication, problem-solving, time management, business acumen, and adaptability are just a few examples. Let‘s dive into each one and examine why they matter so much.

Communication

Programmers stereotypically have a reputation as quiet loners who prefer staring at a screen to interacting with others. But the reality is, virtually all programming jobs require extensive communication and collaboration. We have to gather requirements from clients, provide project updates to managers, document our code for other developers, write user guides, give presentations to stakeholders, and more.

A study by IEEE found that software engineers spend over half their time on communication and collaborative activities. So like it or not, communication skills are essential. Some key areas to focus on:

Writing – Can you write clear comments in your code, descriptive commit messages, and easy-to-follow documentation? Can you explain technical concepts in writing to a non-technical audience? Practicing your writing, using tools like Grammarly to check for errors, and having others proofread important documents can help.

Speaking – Are you comfortable presenting to a group, leading meetings, and participating in discussions? Do you speak clearly and confidently? Practicing public speaking, whether at work or a Toastmasters group, is hugely beneficial.

Listening – Do you pay attention and really listen when others are speaking? Do you ask clarifying questions and try to fully understand others‘ perspectives? Active listening is an underrated but extremely valuable skill.

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw

Problem-Solving

Programming is essentially problem-solving – taking a complex problem, breaking it down into smaller pieces, and implementing a solution via code. But strong problem-solving skills go beyond just coding. Some key problem-solving abilities every programmer should develop:

Breaking down problems – Can you take a big, fuzzy problem and break it into smaller, well-defined pieces that can be solved separately? Are you able to identify the root causes and core issues that need to be addressed?

Thinking logically – Do you have a structured, logical thought process? Can you consider a problem from multiple angles, think through different solutions, and evaluate trade-offs?

Creativity – Can you come up with innovative solutions and "think outside the box" rather than just going with the obvious approach? Creative problem-solving leads to better, more efficient code.

Persistence – Do you get frustrated and give up when faced with a difficult bug or challenge? Or do you have the patience and persistence to keep at it until you find a solution?
The ability to problem-solve effectively is what separates average programmers from great ones. And these skills translate to non-programming contexts as well. As author and entrepreneur Jim Rohn put it:

"Don‘t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don‘t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don‘t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom."

Time Management

As a programmer, there is always more to learn, more to code, more to do than time available. Time management skills are therefore crucial to staying on top of your work, meeting deadlines, making steady progress, and maintaining work-life balance. A few key time management tips:

Prioritize ruthlessly – There will always be more on your to-do list than you can realistically get done. Focus on the 20% of items that will yield 80% of the results and impact. Don‘t waste time on low-value activities.

Timebox your activities – It‘s easy to fall into the trap of spending hours trying to track down a difficult bug or getting sucked into unproductive meetings. Set time limits for specific tasks to keep yourself on track.

Take breaks – Powering through for hours on end without giving your brain a break is counterproductive. Take a short walk, do some stretches, rest your eyes from the screen. You‘ll come back recharged and ready to dive in again.

Learn to say no – If you say yes to every request that comes your way, you‘ll end up overloaded and behind on your core priorities. Get comfortable saying no (politely) to things that aren‘t a good use of your time.

"It‘s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?" – Henry David Thoreau

Business Acumen

Many programmers, myself included, entered the field because we love coding – solving challenging problems and building cool things with technology. But it‘s important to remember that we don‘t code in a vacuum. We work in businesses and organizations with specific goals, strategies, customers, and financial constraints.

Developing a solid understanding of business – whether you work for a big company, a startup, or as a freelancer – will make you a more effective and valuable programmer. You‘ll be able to connect your work to larger objectives, make better decisions, and communicate more effectively with non-technical colleagues. A few ways to build business acumen:

Learn about your company/client – Understand how the business works, what the goals and pain points are, who the target customers are, how the company makes money. If you work for a public company, read the annual reports.

Develop domain knowledge – If you‘re working in a particular industry like healthcare, finance, or e-commerce, learn about the trends, terminology, and quirks of that industry. You‘ll be able to "talk the talk" with stakeholders.

Understand the market – Research competitors, industry trends, and market conditions. This will help inform technical decisions about what to build and how to prioritize.

Think ROI – With every project or feature, consider the return on investment. How much value will this provide to the business or customer vs. how much time and effort will it take to build and maintain? Let this ROI focus guide you.

"Ultimately, the business acumen that product managers can bring to the table is what often distinguishes a great technical product from a great technical product that makes money." – Marty Cagan, author and product management expert

Adaptability

The only constant in the world of technology is change. New languages, frameworks and tools emerge all the time. What was cutting-edge a few years ago may be obsolete today. Customer needs and market demands are always evolving too.

As a programmer, you have to be adaptable – comfortable with change, open to new ideas, eager to learn new skills. The most successful programmers I know are infinitely curious, always tinkering and experimenting and learning. Some ways to cultivate adaptability:

Learn new things regularly – Carve out dedicated time to learn something new, whether it‘s experimenting with a new language, building a project with a new framework, or diving into a technical book. Aim to learn several new things every year to keep your skills fresh.

Be open-minded – Avoid religious wars about why a certain language or tool is superior to another. Acknowledge that different approaches are better in different contexts and strive to add more tools to your toolbox.

Embrace failure – Adapting often means venturing into unfamiliar territory where failure is inevitable. Reframe failure as a learning opportunity. As Elon Musk said, "Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough."

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." – Charles Darwin

Conclusion

When aspiring programmers ask me what skills they should focus on, I usually emphasize these non-programming skills just as much as technical coding ability. You may be a 10x coder, but if you can‘t communicate well, manage your time, solve problems creatively, understand business goals, or adapt to change, your potential impact will be limited.

"Let‘s reframe our view of the ‘best‘ programmers. The best programmers aren‘t those who spectacularly solve challenges and write reams of code. The best programmers are those who work steadily, communicate clearly, and leave things a little better than they found them each day." – Ben Kuhn, programmer and writer

The good news is that all of these skills can be developed with practice and intention. I‘m still working on improving in these areas myself and expect it to be a lifelong process. But bit by bit, honing these non-programming abilities can lead not only to better code, but a more rewarding, impactful career.