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A few days ago, a fellow developer and good friend read one of my blog posts and offered some thoughtful feedback.
He said, “Your writing might give the impression that soft skills—like communication, sales, and responsibility—are more important than technical ability. I’m worried junior developers might get the wrong idea.”
At first, I was surprised. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized he had a point.
So in this post, I want to dig a little deeper into that idea. Let me be clear: technical skills are absolutely essential. You can be a great communicator and super responsible, but if your core skills are weak, you won’t last long. You might make a good first impression. You might get along well with the team or build trust with a client.
But in the end, you’ll always be judged by your results.
And if you can’t deliver, people will stop working with you.
For freelancers, technical skills are like your sword.
No matter how great your armor looks, if your weapon is dull, you won’t survive the battle.
As a freelancer, your skill is your weapon. You need to sharpen it constantly and know how to use it well.
Then Why Do Less Skilled People Still Get Chosen?
When I worked as a freelancer, I often saw people who weren’t very skilled winning projects and getting great reviews—more than me. (Honestly, that still happens.) Back when I worked in companies, I’d often help fix the mistakes of those same people. I used to wonder, “Why are they getting more recognition than me?”
But over time, I started to understand why.
In the early stages of a project, a strong developer is crucial.
You need someone who can design the system, solve tough problems, and build the foundation. But once the project becomes stable and moves into a maintenance phase, things change.
Clients start valuing developers who can communicate well, work smoothly with the team, and build trust.
In other words, they choose people who are easy to work with.
Skills Are Basic — Soft Skills Are What Set You Apart
That realization changed how I viewed my own growth.
I started thinking: “Being technically good isn’t enough. I need more.”
So I stopped spending all my time sharpening my skills, and started investing in soft skills—things like communication, responsibility, and even sales.
As freelancers, we’re not just builders—we’re also salespeople selling our own skills.
We need to know how to explain our work, how to talk to clients in a way that builds trust, and how to take responsibility when problems come up. These things make clients want to hire us again.
Of course, if you’re incredibly skilled, that solves most problems.
But let’s be honest—most freelancers aren’t top 1% experts.
Most of us are somewhere in the middle. And that means our soft skills can become our biggest strength.
Rethinking Personal Growth as a Freelancer
If you want to grow as a freelancer, you need a smart, balanced approach to self-development. Here’s what I suggest:
- Spend 70% of your time on learning and improving your technical skills.
- Spend the remaining 30% on building your soft skills—communication, client handling, and responsibility.
Technology changes fast. If you keep learning, you’ll naturally improve. But human skills—trust, connection, and how you present yourself—can take you even further.
Final Thoughts
Saying “skills aren’t everythig” doesn’t mean skills don’t matter.
In fact, they’re the minimum requirement.
What matters now is what you can build on top of those skills.
As freelancers, we’re out in the world alone.
We meet clients, earn trust, and present our work.
We are not just developers—we’re also salespeople, communicators, and the face of our personal brand.
Your skills are your sword. Sharpen them.
But also learn how to show that sword—and how to use your words to win trust.
That’s how you survive as a freelancer.
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