What non-technical skills add significant value to system and network administrators and designers?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:55:50 -0400

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 30 at 2016 11:59 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:59:59 -0400

The most significant skill in any job is the ability to communicate. Miscommunication leads to conflict. Poor communication leads to lost opportunities and confusion. I openly admit that I have succeeded in five different careers far better than I had a right to expect because of my ability to speak to an audience, hold their attention, and convince them of the merit of my proposals (even when those proposals weren't as promising as competing ones). My ability to use the written word effectively has also produced similar results. Now, in my retirement, all I'm left with is my facility to communicate and I've taken up the craft of storytelling. I love it...

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2016 12:47 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 12:47:05 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Business Process Analysis - the capability to understand what an organization does, and as importantly, why it does the action. Lots of times an action is performed just because it has always been done. The analysis can support necessary changes that can be implemented by human activity, technology, or a combination.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 30 at 2016 1:06 PM

LTC John Shaw — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 13:06:14 -0400

Certified Scrum Master for many shops is a critical non technical leader to get after the business problem and translate the work into its technical components and ensure the team is effective.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2016 1:54 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 13:54:57 -0400

patience and communication. When dealing with technically challenged people, you have to learn to to communicate on a level they understand to determine exactly what they want, of course without making them fill like they are challenged. A daunting task for most in the IT community.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 30 at 2016 4:07 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 16:07:32 -0400

Project Management (You'll be doing a lot of it)
Communication (Especially to non-Technical people, translate nerd speech to human language)
Problem Solving

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2016 10:48 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 22:48:48 -0400

I think the military prepares you far better than you can imagine. Learning to actively listen when people disagree with you, the ability to set people as the priority, and the patience with clarity to tell somebody when there is an ongoing issue not to state why or an ETA to a client until after you have a solution pending or In play.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Aug 1 at 2016 10:25 AM

SSgt Ryan Sylvester — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:25:56 -0400

Lots of good responses already. Here's something off center. Logistical support and records management. One of the big key things to keeping systems running is being able to keep all the systems inventoried, all the warranties straight, and knowing who to call when stuff goes pear-shaped. You can also shave a bit of time from troubleshooting (not to mention some of your inventory) when you can just call up a vendor and have things diagnosed and replaced.

Response by SPC John Lebiecki made Aug 1 at 2016 10:38 AM

SPC John Lebiecki — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:38:10 -0400

Customer service. Though it shouldn't need to be said, but we technical guys need to remember that the person who is requesting our help may or may not have the technical know how to do the job. This is important for both internal and external customers.