Quick thread on NECESSARY soft skills for professional artists that are more important and specific than "be nice"

knowing when to ask for help.

if you don't know how to do something you've been assigned, it's essential to be able to acknowledge when you're out of your depth. sitting at your desk and twiddling your thumbs wastes everyone's time.

natural follow-up to this: being adaptable.

especially in a field where software is constantly changing, companies are constantly adapting to the ever-changing market, teams change frequently, much of the work is temp... being able to research and be self-taught is necessary.

this one can be tough: being able to estimate how long a task will take you.

this is especially important when freelancing or gigs with short deadlines.
the first question clients ask: what are your rates?
always the second Q: how long will it take you to complete X?

you HAVE to be comfortable talking money, especially if you're freelancing.

if a potential client needs to know your rates and you're dancing around giving them a number, they'll eventually quit responding and find someone else.

being objective about your art.

this means being able to identify your strengths/weaknesses, knowing where your skill level is compared to the artists around you, knowing if your portfolio content actually appeals to that job opening, etc. seeing your work through a clear lens.

not shitting on your art.

no team wants to work with a chronically self-bashing artist. sorry. it's awkward for the rest of the team and difficult to work with.
we all struggle with confidence, but when it bleeds into your work relationships/performance, it's a major issue.

being able to credit yourself and others properly.

we go from creating personal art by ourselves for *years* to being part of a bigger creative team. when sharing your work, ALWAYS credit appropriately and speak with a team spirit.

social media etiquette.

a friend once described being a pro game dev and having an active twitter account as "holding a loaded gun to the head of your career."

wow is it that scary? yes, it really can be, depending on where you work/want to work.
when in doubt, share less.

i share a lot more these days than i did while working at certain places. there are a lot of companies other people want to work at that i do not want to work at anymore, so please don't hold my content as a bar for what is/isn't considered appropriate by studios lol

not creating unnecessary conflict.

this means not being gossipy, not being overcritical of your peers, responding patiently and calmly to sudden changes, being empathetic, avoiding pettiness, being able to help diffuse heated situations.
make things better. not worse.

acknowledge when you messed up....sooner rather than later.

underestimated how long something would take? don't wait until the last minute to tell the team.
committed to something you can't complete? reach out for help.

being able to help new team members feel welcome.

reach out to new peers! offer to get them a coffee! send them memes! invite them to shit! being in art/games can cause us to put SO much pressure on ourselves. small motions of kindness mean the world to folks.

knowing when to be formal/informal.

i speak/act differently with clients, coworkers, friends, online buds, mentors, etc.
it's good to be professional, but we also work in a pretty casual industry. needless formalities can make it hard for folks to connect with you personally!

there's a bunch of other things to consider, but tl,dr:

be kind
be self-aware
read the room
connect with others
make it easy for others to connect with you
and don't be a dick

ok back to work k thnx bye