By Evelyn Evans (Especially If You Actually Want to Keep Your Job in 2025)
Let’s get one thing straight: coding is cool. It powers our apps, automates our workflows, and yes, it can lead to six-figure jobs.
But in 2025? It’s not the only skill employers are begging for. In fact, you know what might be even more valuable than writing perfect Python?
Talking to people like a human being.
Writing a clear email.
Explaining a complex idea without sounding like a robot.
In other words: communication.
Here’s why it’s quietly becoming the make-or-break skill in almost every job—and how you can sharpen yours, even if you’re not “naturally” good at it.
1. The World’s Full of Coders—But Few Can Actually Explain Stuff
Let’s say you build a brilliant app that solves a real problem. But when your boss asks you to explain it at the next team meeting, you mumble something about APIs and asynchronous calls, and everyone tunes out.
Guess what? That app won’t go anywhere. Not because it doesn’t work—but because no one gets it.
In today’s workplace, it’s not just about what you do. It’s about being able to:
Explain what you’re doing
Get buy-in from teammates
Translate tech-speak to real-people language
TL;DR: If you can’t explain it, it doesn’t exist.
2. AI Can Code. It Can’t Empathize.
AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot can now write code, fix bugs, even design user interfaces. That’s a little scary, right?
But here’s the good news: AI still can’t hold a team together, navigate office politics, or pitch an idea in a way that inspires people.
That’s where humans win—especially humans with strong communication skills.
Whether it’s:
Giving feedback without offending anyone
Leading a brainstorming session
Calming a stressed-out client
…those are things machines just can’t fake (yet).
3. Most Projects Fail Because of Bad Communication—Not Bad Code
Think about the last time something flopped at work. Was it because the software didn’t compile? Or was it because someone misunderstood the goal, didn’t speak up, or assumed “everyone was on the same page”?
Studies consistently show that poor communication—not technical failure—is one of the top reasons projects crash and burn. That applies whether you’re:
Launching a new product
Organizing a team event
Rolling out a company-wide tool
So while technical skills get the project built, communication skills are what actually get it done.
4. If You Want to Get Promoted—Start Talking
Let’s say you’re the best coder, technician, or analyst on your team. You never miss a deadline. You clean up everyone’s mess.
And yet… your louder, less competent coworker gets promoted. What gives?
Often, it comes down to visibility. People who:
Speak up in meetings
Present their work clearly
Network across departments
…get noticed. That doesn’t mean you have to be a loudmouth. But being able to communicate your value—in writing, in speech, even on Slack—can make or break your career trajectory.
Quiet excellence is great, but spoken clarity gets remembered.
5. Soft Skills Are Becoming Hard Requirements
In job descriptions, you’ve probably seen “excellent written and verbal communication” listed as a requirement. That’s not just filler. It’s real.
Employers are realizing:
Remote teams need better written clarity
Hybrid meetings need people who can guide conversation
Customers want human support, not jargon walls
So yes, your résumé might say “JavaScript Ninja.” But if your emails read like fortune cookies and you freeze on Zoom calls, you’re going to struggle to move up.
How to Actually Get Better at Communication (Without Feeling Fake)
Okay, so what if you’re not naturally outgoing? Or writing makes your head hurt? No problem. Here are some low-stress ways to improve:
🗣️ 1. Practice Saying Things Out Loud First
Before your next meeting, rehearse explaining your idea as if you’re talking to a smart 12-year-old. This helps strip away buzzwords and forces clarity.
✍️ 2. Use the “So What?” Test in Writing
Every email, memo, or Slack message should pass the “So what?” test. If your reader doesn’t immediately know why it matters to them, rewrite it.
👂 3. Listen Like It’s a Skill (Because It Is)
Good communication isn’t all talking. Ask follow-up questions. Summarize what someone just said. You’d be surprised how rare and appreciated that is.
📢 4. Get Feedback—Really
Ask a trusted coworker, “Do I come across clearly in meetings? Anything I should do differently?” Most people won’t offer feedback unless you invite it.
📚 5. Steal From the Greats
Read great communicators. Watch TED Talks. Follow people who explain things well on LinkedIn or YouTube. Pay attention to how they make things simple and engaging.
Final Word: Coding Might Get You the Job, But Communication Keeps It
Look, no one’s saying coding isn’t important. In many careers, it’s a superpower. But as tech becomes more automated and workplaces more team-driven, your ability to communicate could become your real competitive edge.
So don’t just focus on the next certificate or language. Practice being clear. Be human. Learn to write a killer update email.
Because in the end, the best code in the world still needs someone to tell the story behind it.