Why Human Skills Are the Hardest to Learn

I was sitting in a conference room, presenting a high-stakes technical proposal to my department head and his VP. The project was worth millions. They had pretty much zero technical expertise on software and databases, yet I had to make them not just understand the plan—but buy into it.

I broke down the technical complexities into a clear, logical narrative. No jargon. No fluff. Just the essential details they needed to make a decision. By the end, my department head leaned back, nodded, and said, “Now that makes sense.”

That moment cemented something I had suspected for a while: technical skills will get you through the door, but soft skills determine how far you go.

The Paradox of Soft Skills