Why Technical Focus Dominates Our Careers
Walk into any workplace, and you’ll see the same pattern: people rushing to sharpen their product knowledge and process mastery. Engineers chase certifications. Managers attend systems training. Even fresh graduates are told, “Focus on your technical skills, that’s what will make you successful.”
And to be fair, organizations reward it. Bosses encourage it. Society applauds it. Our entire professional culture is built around the belief that technical expertise is the ultimate key to success.
But here’s the blind spot—this heavy investment is only in two legs of the tripod of success: Product and Process. The third leg—People Skills—is often left ignored.
A Tale of Two Leaders
In my journey, I’ve had the privilege of meeting two very different leaders.
The first was a visionary technocrat, an advisor at the very top levels of government. His brilliance was unquestionable—he had pioneered many firsts in technology and left a lasting impact on his field. Yet, when you stepped into his office, he barely looked up from his laptop. Conversations felt transactional, almost like interruptions. His technical mastery was unmatched, but his inability to connect left people disengaged.
The second leader was the complete opposite. I call him King Midas. He wasn’t known for groundbreaking technical expertise, but wherever he went, things flourished. Teams rallied around him. Struggling projects turned into success stories. His strength was simple but powerful—he valued people, listened deeply, and inspired trust. Everything he touched turned into “gold,” not because of systems or machines, but because he brought out the best in people.
These two extremes taught me a lesson that no textbook ever could: Technical brilliance may win you respect, but people brilliance wins you results.
Why does this happen?
It’s measurable: You can test coding skills, accounting accuracy, or process compliance. People skills? Not so easy to grade.
It’s safe: Technical skills feel concrete, while handling people brings unpredictability and conflict.
It’s systemic: Schools, colleges, and workplaces are designed to reward logic, numbers, and systems—not empathy or collaboration.
The result? Professionals grow strong in two areas and remain fragile in the third. Like a tripod with a missing leg, their success wobbles the moment real-world challenges demand leadership, teamwork, or influence.
In the next part of this series, we’ll tackle a dangerous assumption: “Technical skills alone guarantee success.” Spoiler—it doesn’t.