Probably my number one recommendation would be effective public speaking combined with effective writing of presentations of ideas. If you can't communicate your ideas both effectively and persuasively, you will be severely hobbled in your career. Even for people on the technical track rather than the management track, as you become more senior, you'll be expected to explain your architecture / designs to junior engineers looking to your for guidance.
Even if you are severely introverted (I am) you need to make as much effort as possible to overcome it. People who can't communicate are effectively invisible, regardless of how well they do their jobs, and invisible people are replaceable people.
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Probably my number one recommendation would be effective public speaking combined with effective writing of presentations of ideas. If you can't communicate your ideas both effectively and persuasively, you will be severely hobbled in your career. Even for people on the technical track rather than the management track, as you become more senior, you'll be expected to explain your architecture / designs to junior engineers looking to your for guidance.
Even if you are severely introverted (I am) you need to make as much effort as possible to overcome it. People who can't communicate are effectively invisible, regardless of how well they do their jobs, and invisible people are replaceable people.