If you were interviewing for a SQL Server DBA position and they asked you, "What is the most important skill that a DBA should have?", what would you say?
Technical skill? Working under pressure? Ability to work as part of a team? Ability to follow the standard procedures and rules that apply to your position?
All of these are good answers, but I think that one of the most important, if not the most important, is people skills.
Before you disagree with me (if you do) let me explain.
I have known lots of people with excellent technical skills. They were smarter than me by a long shot, but they could not communicate with people to save their lives. They were either socially hindered, arrogant, or just plain rude when it came to talking to our customers. This lead to our customers requesting that DBA X not be assigned to their project. This lead to a very bad situation inside the DBA team and the DBA in question finally left, much to the relief of all.
The same applies to all of the answers given above (although if you are a good team player your people skills should be OK as well). I would rather hire someone with a little less experience and technical skill who is a great communicator and people person than an expert who can not relate to people or is rude or arrogant. If you have the right base skills, you can always learn the technical stuff. Learning the people stuff is not so easy.
What do you think? Am I right or do you disagree? Let me know. Thanks!
Jim
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