Seizing opportunities: importance of soft skills

Stavroula Gkioni emphasises that while technical testing skills are important, it's the soft skills that often make the biggest difference in a tester’s impact and growth. Drawing from her own experience in a test management role at a European agency, she highlights the tester’s central role in cross-functional communication, noting how misunderstandings can escalate when messages aren’t tailored to different stakeholders. Through examples, she encourages testers to ask clarifying questions, share insights with the team, avoid assumptions, and actively participate in discussions to ensure everyone stays aligned.

Stavroula also dives into the nuance of prioritisation, showing how seemingly minor tasks can have major consequences depending on context and dependencies. She shares a story of a female testing leader who gained respect by asking well-timed, knowledgeable questions, reinforcing the idea that expertise and clear communication can earn influence. Ultimately, she urges testers to step out of their comfort zones, continuously develop their soft skills, and take ownership of their work—because these are the traits that open doors and drive meaningful change in any team or organisation.