Are communication skills the most important skill in IT cons

[Z064life]

In IT consulting as a developer, is communication skills the most important skills?

So many people think like this. Perhaps when you start off in a consulting role, and even especially as you are on client sites so dealing direct with the customer. But then the tech skills have to come into play with equal importance because if either skill is seriously lacking, you would be seen as underperforming and be in trouble, no? Or is this the wrong way of thinking about it?

There is someone at my work with rubbish technical skills but good communication skills and he has been in trouble, not just with the manager, but even people above the manager.

Thanks

[callisto]

Perhaps if you worded your post in English, with proper spelling and grammar, someone could help you?

Communication skills you say?

[ymwoods]

I think, as with any job, the right mix of skills to suit that role is what is required.

If it is a customer focused (or client focused) role that involves fixing computers then, indeed, the skill set would be one of being able to fix computers and being able to communicate effectively and professionally.

Just as the skill set for being a motorbike instructor may require me to be good at biking, and teaching.

[ewenm]

If you can do the techy stuff, then communication skills are important. If you can't do the techy stuff, then it doesn't matter how good at communicating you are, you can't do the job.

[bogie]

as above - you need both, and the better you are at both the more valuable you become

real engineers that can do customer consultancy, and be sales/commercially away are generally like rocking horse poo ...I have spent over 10 years building and managing teams of them for 2 companies ...but the rewards are far greater than "just being a techie"