When I return from a conference I am dying to try out the new ideas I brought home and convince my colleagues that we should start using them. Turns out my hard skills only get me *so* far. Soft skills play a vital part in the development of a great product. We need to be able to motivate people, listen to them and treat them with respect. So how do we get there? The few things I have learned about soft skills came through improving upon my mistakes and asking other developers about it. So bring your questions to this meetup and let's see if we can put the 'soft' in software development together.

1. TheTheTheTheThe
Soft SideSoft SideSoft SideSoft SideSoft Side
ofofofofof
Software DevelopmentSoftware DevelopmentSoftware DevelopmentSoftware DevelopmentSoftware Development
Hanno Embregts @hannotify

2. Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!
tinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-bof
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1447013

4. You still need hardYou still need hardYou still need hardYou still need hardYou still need hard
skillsskillsskillsskillsskills
Yes. You really do.
https://www.pexels.com/nl-nl/foto/apparaat-automatisering-benodigdheden-industrie-9281/

5. Convincing everyoneConvincing everyoneConvincing everyoneConvincing everyoneConvincing everyone
Just knowing about the latest
technical stu will get you only so far.
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/999178

6. Soft skills play a vitalSoft skills play a vitalSoft skills play a vitalSoft skills play a vitalSoft skills play a vital
part in developing apart in developing apart in developing apart in developing apart in developing a
great productgreat productgreat productgreat productgreat product
You need to be able to convince
people, motivate them, listen to
them and treat them with respect.
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1417529

7. Hey, don't just takeHey, don't just takeHey, don't just takeHey, don't just takeHey, don't just take mymymymymy
word for it!word for it!word for it!word for it!word for it!
Because lots of people seem to think
soft skills are important.

10. What skillsWhat skills
should I investshould I invest
in?in?
People skills.People skills.
No. I mean whatNo. I mean what
tools and besttools and best
practices shouldpractices should
I learn?I learn?
Learn whatLearn what

11. respect is. Thenrespect is. Then
use it onuse it on
everyoneeveryone
around you.around you.
— Kelsey
Hightower
(@kelseyhightower)
June 27, 2018

12. What skillsWhat skills
should I investshould I invest
in?in?
People skills.People skills.
No. I mean whatNo. I mean what
tools and besttools and best
practices shouldpractices should
I learn?I learn?
Learn whatLearn what
If you want to stayIf you want to stay
relevant as a softwarerelevant as a software
developer for the nextdeveloper for the next
ten years?ten years?
These are the 3 majorThese are the 3 major
things you should focusthings you should focus
on:on:
1. The ability to work in1. The ability to work in
a team.a team.
2. Communication.2. Communication.

13. respect is. Thenrespect is. Then
use it onuse it on
everyoneeveryone
around you.around you.
— Kelsey
Hightower
(@kelseyhightower)
June 27, 2018
3. Coaching and3. Coaching and
uplifting those moreuplifting those more
junior than you.junior than you.
Tech always changes.Tech always changes.
— Damien Ryan
(@djryan)
https://t.co/PtyzmHTI3chttps://t.co/PtyzmHTI3c
November 17,
2018

16. Petition toPetition to
rename "softrename "soft
skills" to "coreskills" to "core
skills" bc youskills" bc you
can't really becan't really be
successfulsuccessful
without them.without them.
— Shubheksha is
tired and tiring in
Berlin 😴
(@ScribblingOn)
May 19, 2019

18. Petition toPetition to
rename "softrename "soft
skills" to "coreskills" to "core
skills" bc youskills" bc you
can't really becan't really be
successfulsuccessful
without them.without them.
— Shubheksha is
tired and tiring in
Berlin 😴
(@ScribblingOn)
May 19, 2019
A disturbinglyA disturbingly
commoncommon
complaint I hearcomplaint I hear
from startupfrom startup
founders Ifounders I
advise:advise:
Their devs can’tTheir devs can’t
communicate.communicate.
Such skills—Such skills—
which everyonewhich everyone

19. can developcan develop
impact theimpact the
success of thesuccess of the
company andcompany and
the happiness ofthe happiness of
everyone in it.everyone in it.
But yeah, let’sBut yeah, let’s
just keepjust keep
arguing aboutarguing about
JavaScriptJavaScript
frameworks…frameworks…
🤔🤔
— April Wensel

20. Good AdviceGood AdviceGood AdviceGood AdviceGood Advice
and Bestand Bestand Bestand Bestand Best
PracticesPracticesPracticesPracticesPractices

21. It dependsIt dependsIt dependsIt dependsIt depends
Sorry about that.
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/913382

22. Khalid @ Home
@buhakmeh
After 10 years of professional programming, I've come to the
realization that it's really really really hard to give "good" advice
or "best practices". Context is everything.
790 4:35 PM - Dec 25, 2018 · New Cumberland, PA
178 people are talking about this

23. The CEO andThe CEO andThe CEO andThe CEO andThe CEO and
the Threethe Threethe Threethe Threethe Three
EnvelopesEnvelopesEnvelopesEnvelopesEnvelopes

24. You are bound to makeYou are bound to makeYou are bound to makeYou are bound to makeYou are bound to make
mistakesmistakesmistakesmistakesmistakes
...and really, that's OK!
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/918274

25. There is no singleThere is no singleThere is no singleThere is no singleThere is no single
'right answer''right answer''right answer''right answer''right answer'
Situations, people and cultures di er
dramatically.
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1418854

26. So, how isSo, how isSo, how isSo, how isSo, how is
this gonnathis gonnathis gonnathis gonnathis gonna
work?work?work?work?work?

27. We'll gather allWe'll gather allWe'll gather allWe'll gather allWe'll gather all
questions you mightquestions you mightquestions you mightquestions you mightquestions you might
have...have...have...have...have...
...and we put them on a Trello board.

28. Then you can cast yourThen you can cast yourThen you can cast yourThen you can cast yourThen you can cast your
votes on questions youvotes on questions youvotes on questions youvotes on questions youvotes on questions you
want to hear an answerwant to hear an answerwant to hear an answerwant to hear an answerwant to hear an answer
to...to...to...to...to...
...and I'll discuss the top voted
questions until we run out of time.

29. Ask & VoteAsk & VoteAsk & VoteAsk & VoteAsk & Vote

30. Instructions for AskingInstructions for AskingInstructions for AskingInstructions for AskingInstructions for Asking
Choose an appropriate category:Choose an appropriate category:
Motivating
Convincing
Communicating
Respecting
Miscellaneous
(choose this one if you don't know which one it is)

31. Instructions for AskingInstructions for AskingInstructions for AskingInstructions for AskingInstructions for Asking
Mention details relevant to the topic, for example:Mention details relevant to the topic, for example:
some general context;
your work experience (in years);
how long you have been on the project;
local culture.

32. Instructions for VotingInstructions for VotingInstructions for VotingInstructions for VotingInstructions for Voting

34. Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!Post Your Questions!
tinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-boftinyurl.com/softside-bof
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1447013

35. Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?
Firstly, learn by making mistakes!
Hosts Dave Smith and Jamison Dance cover
a wide range of topics
You can even ask them your own questions
via Twitter!

36. Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?Where can I learn more?
Firstly, learn by making mistakes!
Listen to the excellent Soft Skills Engineering
podcast
Hosts Dave Smith and Jamison Dance cover
a wide range of topics
You can even ask them your own questions
via Twitter!
( )softskills.audio

37. Any (more)Any (more)Any (more)Any (more)Any (more)
questions?questions?questions?questions?questions?

38. Thank you! ☺Thank you! ☺Thank you! ☺Thank you! ☺Thank you! ☺
tinyurl.com/softside-bof-slides
hannotify.github.io
@hannotify
hanno.embregts@infosupport.com