Industry Insights MedComms: 27/07/24
This week’s insight focuses on soft skills in medical writing, as discussed in the latest issue of the EMWA’s Medical Writing journal.
Soft complementing hard: the skills required in today’s medical writing landscape
The ‘hard’ skills in medical writing involve the scientific and technical skills that writers acquire through education, experience, and professional growth; they form the foundation of exceptional medical writing. However, the importance of non-technical or ‘soft’ skills is becoming increasingly recognised in the ever-evolving world of writing. Complementing hard skills with soft skills can help boost writers’ production and advance their careers.
Which soft skills are necessary for medical writers?
Essential soft skills for medical writers include networking, effective time management, teamwork, and the three C’s (creative thinking, communication, and conflict resolution). These skills pertain to any area of medical writing, be it medical communications, regulatory writing, or copywriting. Raquel Billiones, editor-in-chief at EMWA, highlights the significance of giving and receiving constructive feedback – key soft skills that require teamwork and reciprocal respect between writers, reviewers, and other team members.
Soft skills are vital for every stage of a writer’s career
Soft skills apply to newcomers as well as seasoned writers. They are not bound to a specific stage of a writer’s career. On one hand, transitioning from academia to the world of medical writing is challenging; it requires extensive networking, resilience, and discipline. On the other hand, building a successful career calls for the continuous improvement of soft skills. As medical writers are increasingly relying on AI to resolve technical, hard skill-related challenges, their soft skills may take centre stage in their careers.
Further reading: Soft Skills for Medical Writers
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