Good communication is arguably the most important for success in any team. Clear communication can make a big difference in how the project turns out.
What is a bad practice?
Almost every problem I’ve faced  -  big or small  -  can usually be traced back to miscommunication or a lack of communication. When we’re not on the same page with teammates or stakeholders, our efforts can go to waste. Poor communication makes it harder to turn business needs into technical solutions and explain technical limits in a way the business can understand.
How can it be improved?
Making sure everyone is on the same page is key to avoiding confusion. Clear communication helps us explain why something can or can’t be done and allows us to question assumptions to better understand what stakeholders really need.
Our work isn’t done in isolation. Each team member plays a part, whether it’s through coding, reviewing, or collaborating on tasks. What’s often overlooked is how much our communication affects each other. Keeping communication clear and up to date, and encouraging others to do the same, prevents misunderstandings that can lead to delays or mistakes.
Regularly sync with your team members. It’s more than just sharing updates  -  it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels encouraged to contribute, collaborate, and move the project forward.
Managing time has become harder as our tasks get more complex and varied. We’re constantly balancing conversations, group chats, meeting notes, and to-dos, making it difficult to stay organized. That’s why good time management is one of the most important skills you can develop.
What is a bad practice?
Not keeping track of time spent on tasks often results in missed deadlines and a poor knowledge of your own abilities. Misjudging how long something will take wastes not only your time but also impacts others on the project.
How can it be improved?
Start by being more mindful of how you manage your time, and you’ll naturally start respecting others’ time too. While it’s normal to misjudge how long tasks take, recognizing and fixing these mistakes early is key to good time management and prevents future delays.
Identify and prioritize your tasks, focus on the most important items first to complete them on time.
Some might say collaboration is just another form of communication, but I’d argue that you can be a great communicator and still struggle with collaboration. I’m sure you’ve met people like this  -  I know I have. You can probably think of someone right now, right?
What is a bad practice?
One of the worst habits for a developer is avoiding feedback. Ignoring constructive criticism and keeping your ideas to yourself can lead to failure. When you stop collaborating, withhold your thoughts, and lose sight of the team’s shared goal, you create friction. Over time, this frustration can make it difficult for others to enjoy working with you.
How can it be improved?
I understand the temptation of working alone, I do  -  sometimes you just want to build things your way. But in reality, big projects rarely succeed without a team effort. For this to work, you need to listen to others and also make sure your own voice is heard.
Mutual respect is key. Be humble enough to accept objective feedback and eager to grow from it.
Adaptability is not just about knowing several languages or frameworks; it’s about being ready to adjust as the tech world changes.
What is a bad practice?
Sticking to just one approach, language, or tool can make you fall behind. If you refuse to embrace new technologies or methods, thinking your current knowledge is enough, you risk becoming stagnant.
How can it be improved?
To improve, develop a flexible mindset. Treat unfamiliar things as chances to grow. The more adaptable you are, the more valuable you become  -  to your team and to the project.
Be open to learning new tools, frameworks, and even new ways of thinking.
As tasks get more complex, being diligent and attentive to details becomes even more important. Every small part of the code or the business requirement matters, and missing these details can lead to serious problems.
What is a bad practice?
Neglecting small details in your code or project can lead to big problems, like messy or “smelly” code that’s hard to maintain or understand. No one will be happy to work with it, eventually, slowing progress and frustrating the team.
How can it be improved?
Look at tasks from different angles and question even small assumptions. The details you find can greatly affect code quality, project results, and user experience. Simple actions like writing clear comments, using descriptive variable names, crafting complete commit messages, and leaving thoughtful notes in your task tracker can make a big difference.
Paying attention to the details leads to improved collaboration, cleaner code, and a more successful project.
Being aware of your own feelings and those of others, and practicing empathy, won’t directly solve bugs, but it will greatly improve your relationships with colleagues.
What is a bad practice?
Holding grudges, judging others, and not trying to understand their perspectives creates a toxic environment. This mindset leads to unrealistic expectations and misunderstandings. Working with someone emotionally immature, whether at work or in life, is always tough.
How can it be improved?
View situations from different angles and question your assumptions. Instead of blaming others when things go wrong, look for solutions. Encourage yourself and others to make decisions based on logic and reason, rather than on emotional impulses.
Rather than dismissing or invalidating others’ feelings, try to understand and balance the situation. A little empathy can often make a big difference.
Last, but certainly not least  -  continuous learning is a must.
What is a bad practice?
The biggest mistake is thinking you’ve learned enough and can stop. This moment never comes. There will always be new frameworks, languages, and technologies to explore, more skilled engineers to learn from, and changing environments to adapt to. Feeling so satisfied with your own abilities and situation that you don’t want to try harder  -  is the enemy of progress.
How can it be improved?
Stay curious and committed to learning new skills, technologies, and trends. We’re all aiming to get better professionals, even with small daily improvements. If you’ve read this far, it’s clear you already value continuous learning.
The key is persistence  -  keep pushing forward even if progress seems slow.
I don’t claim to speak from any official authority, but rather from my own experience. My goal was to reflect on the skills that make someone the kind of person I’d be eager to collaborate with on a team. Whether I managed that or not - I’ll leave it up to you.