To stand out in the current job market, you need more than just technical expertise. In fact, 92 percent of employers say that soft skills matter as much (or more) than technical skills in today’s business world.
However, mastering intangible qualities like communication, emotional intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration can be challenging, especially if your career path offers little to no interaction with stakeholders or business clients.
What’s the solution? Side projects offer a no-risk way to explore areas outside your typical work responsibilities, and learn new technologies and soft skills… but only if you select the right ones.
Technology pros often gravitate towards tasks they excel at, particularly if they enjoy solitary work, explained Vladimir Baranov, a coach for tech leaders. The only way to improve your soft skills is by stepping outside of your comfort zone and repeating specific activities until you become more comfortable.
Here’s how to strategically select and engage with side projects that will actually help you develop critical soft skills.
Choosing the Right Projects
Determine which soft skills you want to improve, then actively seek situations where you can apply and practice those skills.
For instance, projects that have a clear business objective typically require a combination of technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills as well as the joint effort of individuals or groups working together, advised Sergio Pereira, fractional CTO for tech startups. Changing the setting can be a great way to gain a fresh perspective and growth mindset.
The process of interacting with others to find a solution will force you to analyze data, problem-solve, collaborate and empathize with customers. Even better, projects focused on creating tangible business outcomes will help you develop business acumen and learn to think differently about problems.
Soft skills like empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution require you to understand and consider other people's perspectives and the ability to adapt. Being involved in the entire project lifecycle will help you acquire and refine abilities in various areas including critical thinking, making strategic trade-offs and conflict resolution as well.
Having the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology will give you the motivation to get started. Pereira added, but projects that are dedicated to solving real problems enhance understanding—and develop hard and soft skills by fostering deeper engagement.
A project focused on mitigating customer churn, for example, could give you the opportunity to work with data analysts and customer service to identify at-risk customers. You may then have the opportunity to build an AI chatbot or tool for personalized communication and improved customer engagement, ultimately driving loyalty and growth.
The right side project can awaken your inner curiosity and force you to step outside your comfort zone, which may feel uncomfortable but is necessary for professional growth.
Create Your Own
The great thing about side projects is the freedom they give you to pursue your interests and learn new skills without the constraints of a structured role or learning environment.
If developing soft skills is your primary objective, look for a "hybrid" project structure, similar to a hackathon, that involves combining in-person and virtual elements for collaboration and project development. Meetups can be another valuable resource for working with others face-to-face on side projects. Regularly engaging in conversations for 10 minutes or more is an effective way to enhance various soft skills like communication, active listening, collaboration and teamwork.
Alternatively, you could come on to a project in a totally different role. For instance, volunteering to serve as a product manager, team manager or mentor to junior developers could involve a change in communication styles, and the ability to display empathy and provide constructive feedback.
“Mentoring requires a different mental model,” Baranov said. Mentors need to be able to build trust, coach, and guide mentees towards their objectives.
Another option is to gather a group of colleagues together and organize your own project. Or practice providing feedback to each other about product improvements or changes. By delivering short talks or stakeholder communication to a supportive audience, you can receive feedback, identify areas for improvement, and build your comfort level.
It’s okay to start small, with a topic and audience in your comfort zone. For instance, try explaining your last project to someone who has no idea what Docker is, what a PR means, or why you need a caching layer, Baranov suggested. Even short, regular conversations or collaborations can have a significant impact on soft skills over time.
Once you become comfortable, graduate to more challenging tasks that heavily rely on soft skills such as leading a team, resolving complex interpersonal conflicts, or negotiating with multiple stakeholders.
Maximize Your Return
One of the best ways to enhance the growth of soft skills like communication is by blogging about your experiences on side projects and sharing project updates on LinkedIn and social media.
Publishing your thoughts and summaries is a great way to reach a wider audience, build your reputation and foster connections with potential hiring managers and collaborators.
Being an active contributor and “good corporate citizen” on open-source or other side projects can help you meet people from diverse backgrounds, build professional relationships and be considered for opportunities to collaborate on future projects.
Unlike technical skills that can be learned through training or hands-on work experience, soft skills are behavior and interpersonal abilities that are honed through experience, observing others, self-reflection, and repeated practice. Side projects definitely provide opportunities to practice and improve soft skills without the pressure of a regular work environment.
