The Biggest Fallacy in Tech: "My Work Will Speak for Itself"
Technical Skills Get You Hired, Communication Gets You Promoted
Why does the quietest genius remain invisible while their "good enough" colleague gets promoted? For years, I've watched brilliant technical minds stagnate while seemingly less talented peers accelerate past them. The difference wasn't technical ability; it was mastery of the hidden language that no bootcamp teaches. What if I told you that the phrase "let your work speak for itself" might be the most destructive career advice in tech?
In tech, it’s not always the sharpest mind that leads; it’s often the clearest voice.
The Silent Specialist Syndrome
For years, I lived by this unspoken rule of technical fields: if I kept my head down, analyzed complex threats, and delivered projects better than anyone else, I'd naturally stand out. I believed my technical excellence would shine so brightly that recognition would inevitably follow.
I was fortunate - truly fortunate - to work with supportive teams where my peers and managers recognized my contributions. Not everyone has that luxury. Despite that at different points in my career I was clearly underpaid.
Between 2023 and 2024, I surveyed over 2400 workers around the world, spanning industries, job titles, and years of experience. Through this work, I learned that feeling underappreciated can come in many forms, but largely, it manifests from lapses in communication between managers and their team members. - Tessa West, Harvard Business Review
I can't help but wonder: what if I had understood the value of communication earlier? Could I have accelerated my growth?
Technical Skill: The Entry Ticket, Not The Main Event
Think of technical skill as your entry ticket to the room; essential and non-negotiable. But once inside, what keeps you in meaningful conversations is your ability to communicate ideas, collaborate effectively, and bring stakeholders along with your thinking. This combination of technical prowess and communication skill is what propels careers forward.
A Tale of Two Technologists: Numbers Don't Lie
I've seen this play out countless times. Consider Alex and Jordan, both exceptional technologists:
Alex: Near-perfect technical abilities but minimal communication skills. Remained in the same position for five years despite solving the team's most complex problems. Performance reviews consistently noted "needs to improve visibility of contributions."
Jordan: Technically competent (top 25% but not top 10%) with excellent communication skills. Advanced to senior positions within three years, led multiple high-impact projects, and received a 35% higher salary than peers at the same experience level.
Jordan didn't need to be the absolute best coder; they just needed to be good enough and capable of articulating their value clearly.
The Silent Cost: When Brilliance Goes Unheard
Let me say something that took me too long to learn: If you can't make people understand your ideas, they might as well not exist.
Consider Xerox PARC, a goldmine of innovation. Its engineers developed groundbreaking technologies like the graphical user interface, the computer mouse, and early networking concepts. Their fatal flaw? They couldn't effectively communicate the value of what they had built; not to decision-makers, not to the market.
Then came Steve Jobs. He saw the potential immediately, translated the tech into a compelling vision, and brought it to the world through Apple. The result? Apple revolutionized personal computing while Xerox, despite inventing the future, was left behind.
The lesson is clear: Building great things isn't enough; you must help others see their greatness.
How many brilliant solutions have died in design meetings because their creator couldn't explain them clearly? How many weeks have you spent perfecting features only to have someone else receive credit because you didn't effectively communicate your contribution? Without clear articulation of your work and its value, all that effort goes unnoticed, unappreciated, unrewarded.
The Strategic Investment: Where Your Learning Hours Count Most
Technical skill development follows the law of diminishing returns.
Consider this: moving from 85% to 86% technical proficiency might require 20 hours of work. That same 20 hours invested in communication skills could take you from 40% to 60% proficiency—a much higher return on investment.
When you reach this plateau, diverting even a portion of your learning efforts toward communication can dramatically increase your overall impact:
You explain complex concepts with clarity
You influence key decisions
You lead teams more effectively
You receive proper credit for your work
You inspire confidence in stakeholders
Your Future Self Will Thank You
Consider your long-term career trajectory. Today you might be a junior developer or security analyst, but where will you be in five years? Ten? Many of us will become tech leads, principal engineers, security directors, CTOs, or founders.
As professionals move into executive roles, communication emerges as one of the most critical skills across the C-suite. According to an HBR analysis, even in technical leadership positions, it’s not just about what you know; but how clearly you can articulate it, align teams, and influence outcomes. The higher you go, the more your impact depends on your ability to connect, not just code.
Regardless of which path you choose, your ability to communicate effectively will determine whether your ideas are heard, your work recognized, and your leadership trusted.
Communication: The Career Multiplier
Don't fall into the trap I did, believing that technical excellence alone will carry you forward. Your communication skill isn't just important; it's the multiplier that determines your ultimate impact.
Even for deeply technical roles, communication matters. A McKinsey report highlights that technical professionals who develop strong communication and interpersonal skills are significantly more likely to advance into leadership roles. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Engineering Education found that engineers who communicate their work effectively are more likely to receive cross-functional support, funding, and visibility; factors essential for project continuation and career growth.
In tech, the loudest voice in the room often gets heard before the smartest one. The real edge? Being both.
The Counterargument: "But I Just Want to Code"
Some argue that certain technical roles simply don't require communication skills; that pure technical excellence should be enough. The data suggests otherwise.
"Pull requests that include clear explanations and active comment engagement are significantly more likely to be accepted. Developers who explain their intent, respond constructively to feedback, and maintain open dialogue increase their chances of merging their contributions, whereas silence or poor communication can lead to rejection—even when the code is of high quality."— Adapted from Gousios et al. (2014), Tsay et al. (2014), and Bosu et al. (2015)
Even if you never speak to clients or give presentations, your ability to document your work, explain your approach, and justify your decisions remains essential.
Skills That Stand the Test of Time
In the end, communication skills aren’t just “nice to have”; they’re life skills. Whether you're presenting a technical idea, navigating a difficult conversation, or leading a team, these skills will follow you for the rest of your life; personally and professionally.
Technical tools change. Roles evolve. Entire industries shift. AI might automate or replace parts of your current skill set. But the ability to listen, persuade, explain, and connect? That’s timeless.
Let your work speak for itself—but amplify it by speaking alongside it.
Communication isn't just for now; it's your insurance policy for whatever comes next. The question isn't whether you can afford to develop these skills; it's whether you can afford not to.