As designers, whether it be UI, UX, or Product Design, we tend to direct our focus and energy on developing and mastering tangible skills.

When our self-review asks, “How have you improved in the past 6 months?” we point to our increased understanding of user testing, or how consistent we’ve been with the daily UI challenge.

Rarely though, do we spend the time to hone our soft skills.

I’m certainly guilty of this as well and am party writing this piece as a reminder to myself to spend less time pushing pixels, and more developing the personal skills that are equally as important.

This list was adapted in part from a lesson on learnux.io, I hope you enjoy it.

1. Feedback

Giving constructive feedback, and responding to less-than-constructive feedback is a critical skill that can be uncomfortable for many new designers.

Lack of awareness of basic feedback skills leads to clients providing vague and worthless feedback…